"Worst Case Scenario" by TJ Newman has an almost blockbuster, cinematic feel to it, but in a good way.

I was obsessed with "Falling," stayed up all night reading it in one sitting. "Drowning" brought me to tears. While I still thoroughly enjoyed "Worst Case Scenario," I didn't have the overwhelming need to lose sleep or grab the tissue box this time around.

I found the nuclear aspect of the book to be interesting, but certain elements felt overly predictable at times.

Thank you so much NetGalley, T.J. Newman, and Little, Brown, and Company for this gifted ARC. I did enjoy it and if T. J. Newman writes it, I will read it no matter what.

At first the prologue of this book really engrossed me but I feel like it fell flat. There was too much technical jargon and it enough storyline happening that it made me feel bored. I am very disappointed as I enjoyed T.J Newmans other 2 books.

Wow, Worst Case Scenario has left me an emotional wreck, as I devoured this thriller in less than 24 hours! If you expect a disaster thriller in which the flight crew saves the day, this story will have you gasping within the first few pages as the worst possible situation develops. The rest of the book kept me on the edge of my seat, brought me to tears more than once, and kept me reading until my kindle dropped on my pillow.

T.J. Newman writes a disaster thriller like no other. The characters are fully developed and as a reader, I felt like I knew and loved each of them. There are multiple subplots and character backstories that add an incredible depth and make the reader care deeply about what happens. The way the community pulled together was an unexpected, heartwarming and feel-good aspect to the book, too. My heart broke into a million pieces over the choices that had to be made and the bravery of those tasked with saving lives.

Worst Case Scenario is my favorite of T.J. Newman's books, so far, and like her first two novels, it will make a fantastic movie at some point in the future. I truly cannot imagine how she is going to top this one, but I look forward to finding out!

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown & Co. for the digital ARC of Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman. The opinions in this review are my own.

Propulsive and action-packed — aka just like Newman's other two novels. This one is even more unsettling (in the best way!). Eternally impressed with the research I'm sure had to go into this one! I learned a lot about nuclear energy!

T.J. Newman was a flight attendant before she turned her hand to writing. She writes what she knows. Her previous two books, Falling and Drowning, were runaway bestsellers and you'll also be seeing those titles as major motion pictures! Having read both of those first books, I was eager to read her newly released third book Worst Case Scenario.

There's a plane on each book cover, as you can see. This time around it's a nuclear power plant and the damage done when a passenger plane comes down.

I enjoy the way that Newman builds a core cast of characters that drive the book forward. And that they're all quite different - nuclear experts, firemen, everyday folks stepping up and so many more. Newman gives the core group detailed personal lives - and how that will affect what happens.

That detailing also covers the plot in terms of how the nuclear plant runs and what can be done to avert disaster. I'll leave it you to discover the rest of the plot...

I turned the last page and wondered and how much was fiction and how much was fact. I adamantly believe that this is not as farfetched as you might imagine.

This was another addicting read from Newman. I'll be looking forward to the next book.

4.5 stars
Have you ever wondered what would happen if a plane crashed into a nuclear power plant? In this heart-pounding thriller, you can find out. TJ Newman writes another page-turning thriller that keeps you turning the pages as fast as possible.

A small town in Minnesota is counting down to destruction after the unthinkable happens and an airplane plane flies into a nuclear power plant. Everyone has to work together to try to survive and prevent a major disaster.

I imagine that fans of Newman’s work will find this to be a very satisfying return to the genre of fast-paced thrillers exploring the question of “what if?!” The cheesy dialogue and big list of side characters affected my enjoyment. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I think it is now to the point that I will read anything T.J. Newman chooses to write: grocery lists, post-it notes, out-of-this-world thrillers. I discovered her soon after she published her first novel, Falling. I loved it so much that I pushed for its inclusion in a reading program. I co-facilitate a summer reading program my school district runs for our high school students. It is a voluntary program where we give away copies of books for the sole purpose of developing readers. We gave away 200+ copies of Falling and the kids loved it. Next summer we will do the same with Drowning. (I was thrilled, just over the moon, when Ms. Newman liked my review for the book!). I could not wait to read this new novel and I was not disappointed. It has a fast, easy-to-read plot that draws you in from the first sentence of the book. There are great characters that you worry about until the final parts of the book. I am not certain I liked this book quite as much as I liked Drowning - but it is very close. However, that doesn't take away from this book that I predict will be the thriller of the year, it is that good. As long as T.J. Newman keeps writing I will eagerly keep reading!

The action takes off right on the very first page and you don’t get much breathing room until you’ve finished the book.

All the problems in this novel truly are the worst case scenarios; it is just one life-threatening disaster after another as the characters fight to save not only their own lives, but the lives of everyone else in the country. Because a commercial airliner crashing into a nuclear power plant has devastating consequences for more than just their own little Minnesota town.

I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for an edge-of-your-seat suspenseful thriller where the action doesn’t stop.

This book will make you cry, give you anxiety, and possibly send you down a rabbit hole of googling how safe nuclear power really is at 2am.

It’s an easy 5 stars from me.

Thank you to netgalley for this arc!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

This book is Die Hard- Plus in book form. It is totally intense, stressful AND hopeful all in 336 pages. I am not a high action lover, but I really loved this book. The action is realistic, the characters are real and the writing is great. This is my first T.J. Newman book and it will not be my last. (This is her third: she’s also written Falling and Drowning!)

I was lucky to see T.J. Speak read and answer questions last night with @cityreadingmouse on the Upper West Side. She told us that she was nervous about writing this book because it is a departure from her other books which take place on the plane. In Worst Case Scenario, the plane crashes in the first couple of pages of the book. Not a spoiler!


Thank you to Little Brown and Netgalley for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.

Another fabulous, pulse pounding nightmare of a novel from Newman! I read this in one sitting (as I have with all of her books). A fantastic thriller with a big heart, and a concept that will keep you up at night.

As you can tell by the title this is not a happy story. A lot of tragedy happens within its pages but some really beautiful moments come out of those tragedies. Overall I wasn’t a huge fan of the book, mainly because I felt like it bounced between storylines too fluidly. I had trouble understanding who the characters were to each other through about 60% of the book. I will also confess I cried through the last 15% of this book and even though I didn’t love the book, I thought the ending was well written.

TJ Newman's "Worst Case Scenario" is an electrifying thriller that plunges readers into the chaos of a disaster that feels all too real. The story revolves around a pilot suffering a heart attack mid-flight, leading to a catastrophic crash near a nuclear power plant. The plant's breach sets the stage for a potential level eight nuclear disaster, and the employees must race against time to save their community—and possibly the world.

What truly sets this book apart is the portrayal of a strong, tight-knit community that comes together in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Neuman does an exceptional job of capturing the resilience and unity of people when everything is on the line. The characters are well-developed and their interactions are genuine, making the stakes feel even higher.

While the book is packed with technical terms related to nuclear energy and disaster management, Neuman skillfully integrates these details through character dialogue, making them accessible without detracting from the story's pace. This thoughtful approach allows readers to stay fully engaged, even if they're not familiar with the technical aspects.

The emotional impact of "Worst Case Scenario" cannot be overstated. The last 50 pages are a rollercoaster of emotions, delivering both tears of joy and sorrow. It's rare to find a thriller that also tugs at the heartstrings, but Neuman manages to do just that.

Overall, "Worst Case Scenario" is a must-read for fans of thrillers, especially those who appreciate a story that combines tension, technical detail, and emotional depth. TJ Neuman has crafted a book that is as heart-pounding as it is heartwarming, leaving readers both exhilarated and deeply moved.

No surprise that Newman’s latest book is an easy 5 stars. This was a fast paced, edge of your seat thriller. Not once does it feel drawn out and too long. There were so many heart breaking parts to this book, I couldn’t get enough. Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown for this eARC!

Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy. I've now read all 3 of the books in this series. As with the first 2, I really enjoyed this entry. Sure, the general conceit is pretty far-fetched, but it didn't really matter, because it was an exciting read. It's definitely a good vacation read. The plot just zips along. There's not a ton of character development, but some of the characters get decent-enough backstories that ratchet up the tension. I know the first 2 books are being made into movies. I'm sure this one will get the Hollywood treatment as well.

A thrilling read I could not put this book down. The author didn’t disappoint with this amazing book

Short synopsis: The pilot of a large aircraft has a medical emergency crashing the plane into a Nuclear Power Plant.

My thoughts: I was highly anxious with my heart pumping from page one, and it did not let up through the entire book. This is the definition of a high stakes thriller, that left me feeling almost every emotion imaginable.

I loved the alternating perspectives, and the fact we could see so many different situations caused by the accident. The sense of community banding together was inspiring.

I did a mix of physical and audio of this and loved both versions. The audio had special effects for announcements etc that really added to the ambiance of the book. This one will definitely be with me for a long time.

Read if you love:
- Community
- High stakes reads
- Pulse pounding moments
- Desperate measures

Worst Case Scenario sets the scene so well, and has you thinking you’re right there in all of the scenes. The descriptions were great, very detailed. There were longer chapters at time but they went by quick because you were invested in the story. The book at times got a little technical and it went a little over my head, but it wasn’t horrible. A lot of characters were introduced at once and we had a ton of POVS, so at times it got confusing trying to keep up with everyone and who was who. Overall this was a unique book concept that I hadn’t seen before.

The quintessential vacation or beach read, this is a thriller that makes you nervous, scared that something like this scenario, a plane crash into a nuclear power plant, could happen. Newman ratchets up the tension at the very first paragraph and never lets up, with the consequences getting more and more dire. Perfect for fans of Patterson and Crichton and those disaster movies I love so much.

✈️Book Review✈️
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Summary- When a pilot suffers a heart attack at 35,000 feet, a commercial airliner filled with passengers crashes into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota, which becomes ground zero for a catastrophic national crisis with global implications.
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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My thoughts- was this story ridiculous? yes Did I enjoy every minute ? Also yes 😂. This one was unbelievably preposterous compared to the last two TJ Newman. If you are willing to suspend belief and go for the ride you will have so much fun. However I didn’t love this one as much as her usual action packed romps. I didn’t connect to any of the characters, there was no buildup and you began the action on page one. However this was a fun little ride. Thanks netgalley and hachette for the advanced copy, this released yesterday.
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QOTD- where was the last place you flew to on a plane ? Mine was California 😍
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