Thank you @tj_author @hachetteaudio @littlebrown for the E-ARC & ALC!

Literally another heart pounding, engrossing read from T.J. Newman. I really enjoyed her other two books and this one most definitely did not disappoint. I felt like the suspense had me the entire time. The action never stopped. We got to see the insight from several characters and it flowed so well seeing all their accounts of the situation. On top of that the way she describes the scenes is just phenomenal. I felt like I was watching a movie play out before me. I absolutely loved it and paired with the audio is was such an experience! Highly recommend her books! You can't go wrong.

I couldn't put this book down. From the start, it grabbed my attention, and as the story unfolded, I found myself even more captivated. I wasn't well-versed in the technical details, but it was clear that a lot of research went into creating a realistic portrayal of a catastrophic event.

The book was intense, showing a disaster that felt both terrifying and plausible. It wasn’t just about the catastrophe itself, but also about the people caught in it. The solidarity among characters and their quick, brave actions were truly inspiring. Each character felt real and fully developed, adding depth and emotional weight to the story.

What really stayed with me was how the book explored the idea of coming together in the face of disaster. It wasn’t just about surviving; it was about the human spirit and the strength found in unity. This book isn’t just a thrilling read—it’s a powerful reminder of what people can achieve when they work together.

This book is so not my typical genre, but I’m glad I took a chance on it. It’s an action-packed page-turner, for sure. But, the author brilliantly included nuggets of wisdom and truth throughout the book that are applicable to all our lives, and they flowed naturally out of the story, never feeling forced or melodramatic. The pacing of the story was done well, bringing the intensity level up and up until you almost feel you can’t take anymore and then giving you relief in a moment of levity or a change of setting. I never would’ve thought that I would find nuclear power all that interesting, but I was never bored with the explanations that were included (and necessary for the story to make sense). The characters and their relationships were well-fleshed out, especially considering the book is not overly long. It’s important for me, when I’m reading a book, that I care about the characters and want to root for them, and that was definitely the case in this book. In the first part of the book I did feel a bit overwhelmed by the number of characters, but it pretty quickly becomes clear which are the most important to the story. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 - Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown Company for the advanced copy of Worst Case Scenario!
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T.J. Newman's books have quickly become some of my favorite summer reads. I really enjoy the heart-pounding, impossible scenarios that she creates for her characters, and I love seeing how they get out of them. Man vs Nature to the extreme!
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I liked and I didn't like Worst Case Scenario. While the plot had me flipping the pages as fast as I could to find out what happens next, the characters did not resonate with me in the same manner as her first two novels. I was always aware that they were just "characters"; they didn't feel real to me, so I didn't empathize with them as deeply. The book felt as if it were written for a screen, so rather than get sucked into the story, I felt like I was reading the book like I would read a potential script. (Not that I often read potential scripts ha! but you know what I mean :)).
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There was a lot of sad in this story. That's expected from the kind of novel Newman writes, but there was not enough "happy ending" to account for the sad, and the book just felt like a downer. That being said, there were some moments that I enjoyed that had me in tears... just not enough.
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I rec this book if:
- You want something suspenseful
- You enjoy T.J. Newman

A plane filled with 295 lives crashes into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota after the pilot suffers a medical emergency. Faced with the potential catastrophic devastation to not only the small town but the entire country, a resourceful group of people must come together to avert a global disaster. Although the premise of this thriller terrified me, I could not stop reading this book. The community of people who come together despite all their potential differences to face the problem head on and find a solution was truly extraordinary. The well written cast of characters took my emotions on a roller coaster ride in this fast-paced thriller that kept me riveted from page one. Prepare for a late night/early morning when you start this astonishing book!

Let me start off by saying this was my first T.J. Newman book thank you NetGalley for the ARC and while it definitely gets 5 stars I am not sure if I can read anymore of them.

This is a difficult book to review, it gets 5 stars for sure. I got wrapped up in the characters, I was scared for my own life and I am not even there! This woman knows how to write a thriller!! I was sobbing all day yesterday!!! For hours!!! The first 25% of the book I was ready to DNF. I was very confused I was having trouble visualizing what was happening. I honestly did not feel smart enough to understand what was happening. The more you read, the easier it got to understand as they explained it. But right when I was ready to DNF, she brought in my boy Connor. I am the mother of 2 boys and children being in danger kills me inside and she would not let me know what happens until the last 2 chapters!! There are multiple POV, from teachers, firefighters, people at the plant and the U.S. president. This is a book of constant peril and terror. My heart was breaking over and over again during this book. I have never had such puffy eyes…ever!!! I had to stay up to finish the book because I knew I would have nightmares of what could happen if I didn’t finish it. This book was AMAZING! But my little heart was being torn every direction, I woke up the next morning and my eyes were still puffy from crying. T.J. You have a special talent!!

TJ Newman has a gift for keeping you on the edge of your seat and making sure you enjoy every minute of it. There isn't a book of hers that I haven't read in a single sitting, not just because they're so well written (they are) but because my anxiety and blood pressure are through the roof if I don't find out what happens asap.

In addition to her incredible ability to write a gripping story, there's so much heart, triumph, and vulnerability in her characters. Honestly, I'd read her grocery list. But you'll want to read Worst Case Scenario. Another big hit from an auto-buy author.

The author's note at the beginning made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! It all felt so realistic... which is truly chilling. As not a science or history lover, the book had a bit too much in it for me. But overall was very quick and entertaining!!!

Thank you NetGalley, T.J. Newman and Little, Brown and Company for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

**Features:**
- A fast-paced action thriller
- Focuses on community, choices, and sacrifices in the face of disaster
- Countdown to catastrophe and the struggle to avoid it
- Small town setting

It was a normal, quiet day in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota until large pieces of a Boeing 757 came crashing down, creating chaos and destruction on a scale the town has never seen. But this is hardly the true disaster. Most of the doomed plane fell directly into the Clover Hill Nuclear Power Plant, causing catastrophic damage to the structures used to manage the volatile material within. Functionally cut off by all of the destruction, the power plant workers and community of Waketa have only 16 hours to stop a global catastrophe.

If you are looking for an action movie in book form, this one is definitely for you! It is a nonstop race against the clock and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The story bounces between plant workers, firefighters/first responders, teachers, families, and the US President as they all work together to save the world from a nuclear disaster. There is definitely a core cast of characters, but it takes a little bit to start getting a sense of who they are because of how quickly the story goes from one perspective to another and how many other characters are involved. However, I never felt lost at any point and learning how all of these people are connected throughout this journey was part of the fun. I don’t know enough about nuclear power plants to say for sure, but it seems like Newman really did her research to properly explore this ‘what if’ scenario in a way that is both accessible and realistic. Overall, this book really hooked me and is a wild ride action thriller lovers won’t want to miss!

**Organized chaos**

If I had to choose a word to describe the vibe of this book, it would be “chaotic”. It quickly jumps from character to character as the story unfolds and not all of these characters are part of the core group we end up getting to know. The frequent switching is a clever way to get a much broader view of the situation, but it can also feel disorienting and chaotic. Especially at the beginning of the book. However, this chaos feels purposeful and really puts you into the moment. Just like the characters, you’re made to feel like there is too much going on and it's hard to figure out what the logical next step is going to be. As the core cast of characters becomes clearer, the structure feels less chaotic but the situation stays complicated and Newman handles this subtle transition really well. Still, I can see readers who don’t like too many characters getting a little overwhelmed with this read.

**There’s no “I” in “team”**

This is a story about a community and the everyday heroes that step up in a crisis. Newman has a talent for highlighting the humanity of each character whether they are only on a couple of pages or on 100. As we see the core cast from different perspectives, we get a good sense of who they are and what they mean to each other. However, despite going on an emotional rollercoaster with these characters, I would not call this a strong character novel. This story is more about people coming together to overcome impossible odds rather than the journey of a few individuals. The fact that Newman managed to create something with this much emotional impact and that felt so human without truly going in-depth on any particular character really speaks to her talent as a storyteller. That being said, readers who enjoy in-depth characters will probably still be left wanting a little more.

WOW! WOW! T.J.Newman has written another edge of your seat thriller/suspense novel. Worst Case Scenario is definitely one of the best books of the year!

The pilot of a plane flying from Minneapolis to Seattle suffers a heart attack, the co-pilot is knocked out during the descent and the plane with 295 on board crashes into a nuclear power plant in Waketa, Minnesota. The residents are now facing radiation exposure, and there is also the possibility of a fire emitting dangerous fumes over the Midwest. In addition there are other occurrences, car crashes, people killed and a 5 year old boy trapped. Fire Chief Steve Tostig is working with Nuclear Emergency Support specialist Joss Vance to try and contain any fallout. The action unfolds within a 16 hour countdown.

The author includes many voices and plots as we follow along. There is plenty of action and emotion. I recommend clearing your day to read this book, once you start you cannot stop, the pages practically turn themselves to find out what happens next. If this is your first book by this author, great choice, but definitely read her two previous novels, Falling and Drowning. I can' t wait for her next one!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Little Brown and Company, for an ARC. The review is my own.

Here’s another winner from T.J. Newman! She has a way of writing thrillers that is cinematic, and I’m not surprised to hear that her books are being adapted into film. There are a lot of technical elements in this book, but they’re broken down that make it easy for an ordinary person to follow. I eagerly await the author’s next book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Worst Case Scenario by T.J Newman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

In true TJ Newman fashion, this book had me at the edge of my seat from the very first page until I closed the book for the very last time and whispered"W.T.F" to myself. Every book I've read from this author is so highly anxiety-inducing and this is no exception.

Falling: airplane freakout as the plane is inevitably heading toward the earth
Drowning: An airliner hits the ocean and sinks terrifyingly slowly
Worst Case: An airplane hits a nuclear power plant, and ground zero is terrible.

If you haven't done so yet; I'd highly recommend picking up this series that can also be read as standalone.

Buckle up. Hold onto your seats, and prepare for an adrenaline rush.
Thank you @netgalley and @littlebrown for the ARC

I was so excited to get the approval email from NetGalley for this book! Newman knows how to write a fast-paced, heart-wrenching story. I really enjoyed this one!

When a plane crashes into a nuclear power plant, everyone in the town must come together to survive and prevent a disaster. We don’t learn a lot about the characters, but I was very invested in their outcomes. Children also played a big role in this story and their scenes kept my heart pounding!

The disaster scenes are emotionally raw and grisly. Newman did a good job describing what happens when a plane breaks apart and crashes. I wish we had gotten a few more rescue moments, but I know that isn’t always possible with a plane crash. The sacrifices the characters make show the strength people have to save others.

Overall, this book had me sitting on the edge of my seat. The short chapters and thematic scenes make you want to read it in one sitting. This one is different from her other two novels since the action mainly takes place on the ground. Definitely recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this eARC to review. All opinions are my own. This book will be available on August 13, 2024!

Read if you like:
​🏃‍♀️ Fast Paced
✈️ Disasters
🤝 People Saving
😬 Edge of your seat!

As a former Flight Attendant I was excited to dig into T.J. Newman's newest thriller! I finished this in one day! It was an exciting quick read! With a rescue effort in addition to the nuclear power plant disaster, I felt like I was getting 2 stories in one. I preferred the rescue effort to the actual main plot of the power plant, which at times was too descriptive about the workings of the plant. I also felt there were a few too many characters and the story lacked on information about the actual airplane crash and victims. I liked how the small town and it's people came together to help each other in a time of crisis and the heroes that stepped up. Thank you Little Brown for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Once again, TJ Newman does it with an edge of your seat thriller!
The book starts with a pilot who has a massive heart attack and dies instantly. The flight quickly goes down and lands near a nuclear power plant. No one immediately knows the damage the plane has caused, but it's evident that it will likely cause a nuclear disaster.
This book kept me reading and I loved the characters. The author had me rooting for them from the beginning. Definitely on par with her other books. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!!

4.5 Stars
What a roller coaster. The adrenaline is pumping from page one and continues until the very end. I was hooked! A plane crashes into a nuclear power plant - from there is a race against time until an even bigger catastrophe strikes - 10x worse than Chernobyl ever was.

We see the community rallying together to help everyone in need.. we have ultimate sacrifices and bravery from our heroes. The emotional impact as you literally become so invested in each person's lives is high. Definitely shed several tears.

Every time I turned the page to a new chapter I heard the '24' theme song countdown in my head. Ha

The ending resolution is implied so that's the only thing I wish maybe would have had a bit more clarity on. Other wise I loved this book and definitely recommend if you like high intensity/disaster type suspense.

A commercial airline pilot has a widow-maker heart attack while at 35,000 feet. There are 295 souls on board, when the plane crashes into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minneapolis. This sets off a terrifying chain of events that will take the combined courage, ingenuity, and determination of a brave few to save not only their community and loved ones, but the fate of humanity at large.

I love this author's books. She writes the best thrillers, hands-down. I can not only say I definitely don't want to ever fly again, but right now, I don't even want to leave my house. I couldn't put this book down. I got chills from some of the scenes, I shed tears, I was on the edge of my seat through the entire book. Now I just want to hug every member of my family and tell them I love them. This is a book that is going to stay with me for a long time. I can't give you a higher recommendation than that. You are going to want to read this....trust me!

Pros: T.J. Newman's books are so much fun to read because they are plot heavy but are also filled with characters who are easy to root for. Like her other books, Worst Case Scenario feels like a situation that could happen and is grounded in reality . . . but hopefully will never happen. I read this book both on Kindle and audiobook and thought it was great in both formats.

Cons: I am the con here because I timed my reading of this book just a few days before flying. T.J. Newman's books probably need to be read with distance from flying.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Little, Brown and Company for the opportunity to read this book.

I have become a huge fan of this author. Her books are heart-pumping, fast paced and edge-of-your-seat stories. This third book did not disappoint. The synopsis was terrorizing enough......What would happen if a plane crashed into nuclear plant? We get our answer.

A small community with a nuclear power plant is rocked by catastrophe and the residents are called to action. The story has a countdown clock as the disaster continues to elevate and difficult decisions are made to save lives. While the story itself keeps you engaged because of the incredible detail of risks and containment of this type of scenario, it is truly the characters that are developed through the timeline that you connect to and hope that their efforts meet the moment. Normal people ascend to a choice of sacrifice to save lives and worst case, all humanity.

This is a thriller of a story that has so many twists and turns until the very end. The prior two books were also great thrillers and worth the read. Buckle Up!!

This is my third book from T. J. Newman and just as the others this one started out at full speed and kept going the whole way through. Great story and great characters with fast paced action. She is definitely someone to check out. All of her books have been ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reads!