What a book! This one grabbed me from the very beginning and did not letup.
This one started out with the pilot of a commercial airliner as the victim of a heart attack, and the plane crashed into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota. This becomes ground zero for the disaster, and the rest of the story is a roller coaster. The tale is told from multiple perspectives, and I was afraid for the fate of most of them.

This one has heartwarming instances when the townspeople came together, tense and dangerous scenes in the power plant, crises with the firefighters who were trying to rescue a little boy, teachers directing children to safety, and families and neighbors huddling together and hoping to help. It was a really good book! Other reviewers have commented that there were too many characters, and admittedly there were a lot, and they were sometimes hard to track. That’s the only negative for me.

I switched back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook. The narration was really good, and the different voices were believable and easily remembered.

Five great stars for this one!

How many ways can a passenger plane accident happen? T.J. Newman showed us two already with Falling and Drowning, and she’s back with a 3rd installment. This one is a little different in that the story doesn’t take place on the plane, it focuses on the small town and the nuclear power plant that the plane crashes into – very Chernobyl.

I’ve gone back and forth on how to review this book and the audio production. I’ve decided to be really transparent and honest in my review: I DNF’d at 84%. Why? I realized that I just didn’t care about this story – it has all the same drama and action as her previous books, and mentioned/borrowed several elements we’ve already seen in the previous books. There were a lot of characters to keep straight, one of whom was a fictitious president of the US of A. The dialogue was very forced and unrealistic. The narrator’s pronunciations of several words just irked me to no end and took me out of the story.

On a positive note, the audio production (other than weird pronunciations) was really good. Joe Morton delivers a clear and smooth narration and I enjoyed the change in tone for the bull horn and CB Radio transmissions – I thought they brought some depth to the story.

2/5 for the book
4/5 for the audio production

Thank you to Netgalley, Hachette Audio for this audiobook. All opinions above are my own.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @hachetteaudio & @netgalley for the audio ARC!

From the first page, this book had me in knots and then I cried through the final chapters!

The high anxiety, heart stopping narration from multiple POVs was able to convey the urgency & the potential outcome of a horrific tragedy playing out minute by minute, while also showing the humanity of everyday heroes.

Equally brave, some of them stepped up to try to save the world, while others were focused on saving just one life.

#WorstCaseScenario #TJNewman #5StarRead #5StarReview #ARCReview #HachetteAudio #Netgalley

Thank you @tj_author and @littlebrown for this finished copy, @hachetteaudio and @netgalley for the ALC 💖.

✨What it is about:
A pilot suffers a heart attack at 35,000 feet, and the crew cannot get back control of the commercial airliner.The aircraft 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. ✨
 
💭My thoughts:
I was thrilled when @tj_author contacted me letting me know I won a copy of her newest book. This was absolutely one of the most intense stories I have ever read, and the action starts right on page one so be ready! T.J. Newman knows how to execute a story full of chilling details and mid-blowing scenarios, supported by great characters, in circumstances that are beyond your wildest imagination. She gets your blood pumping and your mind racing with stories full of suspense and tension that keep you turning the pages.

🎧Listening to the audio book while reading the physical book was such an amazing experience. Narrated by Joe Morton, the audio made me feel like I was right there in the middle of it all! The characters were voiced with the emotion and intensity pertinent to the different situations, and I was fond of all the audio enhancements done to portray the different methods of communication that were used throughout the story: phone calls, intercoms,radios etc…they made everything sound so realistic.

The book follows multiple perspectives and characters dealing with different situations all happening simultaneously, and all brought by the plane crash. It was a lot to wrap up, and the end did leave me wanting more details. However seeing the sacrifices made by so many, and a whole community come together to save the world was very touching.

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Read if you like:
✈️Fast paced page turners
✈️Multiple POVs
✈️High stakes
✈️Non-stop action
✈️Suspenseful thrillers
✈️Compelling and emotional stories

⚠️CW: Plane crash,death,graphic injury details,car accident,death of a parent,grief, death of a spouse,mentions of terminal illness.

Get ready for the ultimate adrenaline rush because T.J. Newman has absolutely outdone herself with "Worst Case Scenario!" After being blown away by her first two novels, I wasn't sure how she would top them! This heart-stopping thriller had me hooked from the first page.

There's no putting this book down, even for a second. The non-stop action captivated me, and I snuck away every chance I had to squeeze in one more chapter. The action starts immediately and doesn't let up. The book begins so intensely that I didn't think Ms. Newman could maintain the level for the remainder of the book. I was anticipating the moment of letdown (or a break to catch my breath), but it didn't come!

I couldn't resist immersing myself in this gripping story, even ignoring my husband on his day off. Once I started, nothing could tear me away. The relentless pace and suspense hooked me, and I had to devour it in one go.

T.J. Newman's exceptional talent shines through on every page of "Worst Case Scenario." While she may churn out books slower than some authors, her quality-over-quantity approach has paid off. With three incredible novels, she has established herself as a master of phenomenal thriller novels. I have my popcorn ready for the movie adaptations and eagerly await her next masterpiece. Maybe I'll even brave flying again one day!

Sincere thanks to Hachette Audio/Little, Brown & Co. for this spectacular advanced audiobook copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#WorstCaseScenario #TJNewman #HachetteAudio #littlebrownandco #audiobookreview #ARC #pageturner #reader #read #honestreview #thriller #bookreviewer #thrillerbooklovers #thepulse #pulsepoint #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #ReadersOfTheLateArc #TalkWordyToMeTeam #lovetoread #lovebooks #booknerd #readaholic #bookstagrammer #booktok #booktoker

With this her third thriller, T.J. Newman has secured her position at the top of the adventure/ thriller genre. Nobody writes high energy, non stop action, thrillers with high drama, heart as deftly or realistically like she does.
Just like her previous two novels, this is heart poundingly addictive reader. Drawn in from the opening chapter, the author grabs your attention instantly and the book sets off at a lightening pace that lasts throughout.
Unlike her other two books, the action on the plane only takes place at the beginning of the book, the devastating and potentially world changing events take place after the plane is no longer in play.
This story ricochets from one high drama moment to another with a cast of well drawn characters. High emotion, high energy, a non stop ride.

I listened to this in a day. Could not stop listening. Loved it. Bravo T.J. Newman. Roll on Summer 2025, I cant wait for book number 4.

4.5 star

** The audio was excellent and the narration was top class.

I am in awe at this author's ability to have your heart pounding within the first few sentences of a book! This is the third book I've read by this flight attendant turned author, and they have all been stellar! While the first two took place primarily on an airplane, this one is more what happens after an airplane crashes....into a nuclear power plant!! Be sure to catch the author's note with how she came up with the story, fascinating look into airline pilot thoughts. This book was consumed in almost one sitting, I was that invested in what was going to happen. There were two plots going on simultaneously, one at the scene of the crash, and the other at a bridge where one of the plane's wings landed upon impact. Both were super compelling and fast paced. I learned something about nuclear power plants, but it wasn't written in a way that was text book-y. If it sounds like this is only a plot driven story, the characters were so well done! There are quite a lot of them, but you will definitely know who is who by the end. Not only did I experience the pulse pounding emotion, but I also cried at a point toward the end (if you read it, you'll know!).

If you are looking for an edge of your seat, adrenaline inducing thriller, that also has great characters and people who rally during the worst of scenarios (see what I did there?), pick this one up. At this point I'm ready to read the phone book if it's written by this author!

I listened to this book on audio, and I highly recommend that format if that is a format you like. The narrator was phenomenal! He added drama and emotion to the scenes and characters, and I will seek out other books he narrates in the future.

4.5. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Newman's latest novel is just as thrilling and immersive as her previous works of fiction. The narration was excellent and I found myself at the edge of my seat throughout. While I didn't expect to get emotionally involved given the many characters and several simultaneous crises, ultimately, I felt the emotional impact of the story - there were tears.

I enjoyed the narration and felt it added to the emotional nature of my experience.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Little Brown & Company, and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by TJ Newman, with the audiobook narrated by Joe Morton. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

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. The International Nuclear Event Scale tracks nuclear disasters. It has seven levels. Level 7 is a Major Accident, with only two on record: Fukushima and Chernobyl. There has never been a Level 8. Until now.

Wow - TJ Newman has done it again! This book was gripping from beginning to end, tension ratcheting up throughout. We get to see how this event affects the people in town - power plant employees, teachers, firefighters. Each chapter leaves us with a cliffhanger from a different vantage point, and my heart was pounding the entire time. This book showcases how people step up when they need to, becoming heroes for the rest of us. I loved being able to go between both book formats so I didn't have to put this one down, and the audio was fabulous with sound effects making it even more chilling., As with all TJ Newman's books, this is a must read!

Well paced and very smart thriller ... but can be tricky on audio. I had to listen with extreme focus and sometimes still rewind because the book switches gears so frequently. That said, this book reads like a movie and gave me the racing heart moments that I enjoy with thrillers! As a former flight attendant, this hit close to home and was a reflective read in addition to an exciting one.

Quality of Writing 4/5
Pacing 4/5
Plot Development 4/5
Character Development 3/5
Narration 4/5
Overall Enjoyability 4/5

T.J. Newman did it again! The real-life fear that this could actually happen is wild! I listened to the audiobook of this one and I highly recommend! The tension and the worry I felt for this small town was so intense. I loved that it felt so realistic, though I have no real idea what would happen in this happened in real life. The tension and fear keep me listening straight back in my chair just waiting for what would happen next. The thought of a nuclear event is absolutely terrifying and what those in the plant have to try to do to save everyone they can! The small-town community vibes are exactly what I wanted. I love her book because they just make you feel so much. You quickly feel for all the characters and what they have to go through. By the end I had tears in my eyes! I highly recommend! Newman has been and will be an auto buy author for me!


Thank you, Hachette Audio, and Netgalley for my #gifted copy!

3.5 STARS - T.J. Newman has taken her years of experience as a former flight attendant and made a name for herself as an author who can deliver quick moving, action-packed, edge of your seat stories featuring airplane settings that also include poignant, human elements.

Worst Case Scenario, her third novel, strays a little bit from her previous books (Falling and Drowning) because it focuses not on people stuck on plane, but on the aftermath when a commercial airliner hits a nuclear power plant.

This disaster thriller hits the ground running and includes a very large cast and a few side stories t'boot. Narrated by Joe Morton (from TV's Scandal), the story has many characters' POVs, each of whom are trying to survive and/or manage the crisis on the ground.

To be honest, it was hard to keep track of who was who and I could have done without a couple of side stories that interrupt the action. But I appreciated how Newman includes background to her characters which make certain scenes all the more poignant for the reader. There's a lot of research that went into this book so if you enjoy more technical descriptions of nuclear power plants, then you'll enjoy the detail Newman provides.

Vivid descriptions, tension and outlandish scenes, this entertaining and well-researched story reads like a Hollywood disaster movie (enter Ben Affleck and Bruce Willis). I enjoyed this book but not quite as much as the first two, but I look forward to Newman's next book and hope that it strays a bit farther from the disaster stories she's becoming known for.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Little, Brown and Company for the digital audiobook which was given to me in exchange for my honest review.

‘Worst Case Scenario’ by T.J. Newman is a fast paced, nervy thriller that explores a scenario suggested to the former flight attendant author by a pilot describing his worst fear… what happens if a huge commercial airliner crashes into a nuclear power facility? The novel largely follows the people of Waketa, Minnesota as they battle against all odds to prevent impending doom for the nation by averting a fiery crisis with potentially cataclysmic consequences.

This book reads quite differently to the author’s first two novels, largely because the action takes place on solid ground rather than thousands of feet in the air or underwater in the shell of a plane. I was captivated by ‘Falling’ and ‘Drowning’ which felt like high octane movies mixed with the technical details of the best episodes of ‘Air Crash Investigation’, and although this novel followed a different pattern, I found it gripping and informative.

The central characters in the book, although there were perhaps a couple too many, were explored thoroughly - with the gruelling events of the day forcing reflection and contemplation and allowing the reader to delve into each person’s motivations. I especially warmed to two of the strongest female characters - a firefighter determined to save one small boy and an academic activist willing to ruffle feathers and sacrifice everything for the greater good.

I actually think that the author could have ramped up the tension further with a more detailed exploration of the failure scenario, as some key scenes lost impact without that context. Ultimately though, the book serves as an important lesson about the dangers of nuclear waste, the value of human interaction and the need to support small communities. It reinforces the idea that everyone can be a hero.

Read by Joe Morton, the audiobook was a fantastic way to experience this impactful tale, and featured attention-grabbing sound effects. Combining the novel and its narration, giving this 4 stars overall.

I received an Advance Listening Copy of this audiobook from the publisher Little Brown UK Audio via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

T.J. Newman's “Worst Case Scenario” is an electrifying and gut-wrenching thriller that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go.

This is a masterclass in suspense in my opinion, where each twist tightens the emotional vice, leaving you breathless. The narrative is relentless, weaving a tale so vivid and intense that it’s impossible to put down.
Newman crafts a story that’s not only thrilling but also deeply human. This a must-read for anyone who loves a high-stakes, emotional rollercoaster of a book.

AUDIOBOOK:
The “Worst Case Scenario” audiobook is a thrill ride, with the narrator’s powerful delivery amplifying the tension.
Their performance nails the story’s intensity, making each twist hit harder. Absolutely loved it

Huge thank you to publisher Hackett Audio - Orbit, Little Brown & Company, and author T.J. Newman for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The audiobook production on this book was fantastic! It took me by surprise because you don't see that a lot, but I really enjoyed the attention to detail, and the changes that were made. once example that I thought was a nice touch was the static and sound of walkie talkies every once in a while when people were communicating.

This book was very different than the claustrophobic stories we are used to from this author, and I loved it.

I found it to be so engrossing that it was the first time I finished an audiobook in one day.

Thank you NetGalley and Hatchette Audio for the gifted advanced copies. The narration was so perfect for this. The audio kept me fully engaged in the book from the start! I have read both of Newman’s previous books and knew I had to get this one! She writes edge of your seat thrillers that can spike your heart rate like nobody else! I listened to this one in a day and just wanted to sit and binge it. Worst Case Scenario is unlike her previous two books, while this does involve a plane, it’s more about what happens on the ground following a plane crash. I really enjoyed immersing myself in this book and living through these characters while they faced such terrifying moments! It’s one of those books that make you stop and think what you would do in each situation and I love that! It had me going through the emotions! I would say this is my favorite of Newman’s so far and I’m excited to see what she comes out with next!

This is a wonderfully terrifying book. However, I had a hard time with 5e audio version. There was so much technical language, I couldn't keep up just hearing the book read. I ended up switching to the ebook version. The narrators did a fine job; this is just a matter of preference for this particular book.

Thank you Hatchette Audio and Netgalley for an early release of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, T.J. Newman can do no wrong. I was worried that this book would be similar to her others since the covers all look incredibly similar. I couldn't be farther from the truth. This book reads like a movie. The narrator did an incredible job of making you feel the tense and angst between the characters. I was hooked on each plot line up until the end. I got teary-eyed at points and couldn't imagine people making such life-changing decisions.

I cannot wait to see what T.J. Newman comes up with after this great release.

During a normal flight, the pilot suffers a widow maker heart attack. Despite the crew's best efforts, the plane crashes into a nuclear power plant. For the first time, this was deemed a Level 8 event, the only one of its kind. The world now waits with bated breath to see if they will become the next Chernobyl.

In typical T.J. Newman fashion, this is a thriller that grabs you from the beginning. A detailed description of what happened in the plane and what people on the ground saw were fantastic. The time spent inside the plant kept me engaged and interested. There are moments where the story becomes a little slow but it doesn't last long. Newman really knows how to write a thriller that makes you want to keep reading.

As always, the book immediately starts with action. It is super fast paced, exciting, tense, and would make a great movie. I didn't like this one nearly as much as Drowning, but I think it was because there were so many characters that we didn't get to connect with any one particular plot line.

It is a fun read. Make sure you really pay attention because it switches POVs/storylines very quickly. This kept me engaged and I flew through the book.

The narration was really clunky with choppy breaks between words. Sometimes you can fix this by speeding it up but that did not really help. I've never had that issue with this narrator before. It made the narration feel slightly robotic at parts so that was distracting. Something about the cadence felt very unnatural even though I know this narrator - maybe the emphasis being put on the wrong words or wrong parts of words ?

This is not reaaaaally a plane crash book. And don't expect to get emotionally attached to any of the characters because the story moves too fast for that. However there are definitely moments that pull at your heart strings. You know with TJs books there is going to be a sacrificial hero, and that definitely delivered.