T.J. Newman’s first book Falling was instantly one of my favorite books of 2021. Now with Worst Case Scenario, I have the same statement to make for 2024.

Worst Case Scenario unlocked a new fear for me with how the opening scene was described. A plane crashes into a nuclear power plant setting off a chain reaction of events. Without getting into detail the way the plane crashes was not something I ever thought of before but now it has me afraid to fly, well done.

This story is truly unique. There is no central character that the story follows. This is a cast of regular people who become heroes. Multiple stories are going on at once each having their own characters that you will be rooting for a following.

A story like this makes you think, what would you sacrifice for the greater good? Do you have what it takes in you to be a hero? Seeing the sacrifice made by others I question my own morals and actions. This story stayed with me after I closed the book.

This story is not for everyone but I recommend it highly. You won’t have a main character and it may scare the hell out of you but the messaging of everyday heroes is just so powerful.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman, an audiobook narrated by Joe Morton is an intense, nerve-wracking, nail-baiting, heart-pounding action thriller where you pray for chances to survive!
If you ever read any T.J. Newman book you know the style! There is a catastrophe and they need to find a way to survive! Not everyone can survive, and this is where a lot of emotions come in!
There are always sacrifices, there will be someone to lose.
This thriller is not different but the tragedy is completely unexpected!
I could feel how much research the author had done as I read a lot about historical tragedy and so many facts felt accurate!
It is heartbreaking just to imagine that this fiction could be a real-life tragedy!

This audiobook is recorded with effects that will make you feel the reality of the tragedy!
It felt like I was witnessing the event by listening to the radio conversations, and being there with people who had no idea how massive tragedy they were facing!

This is what I love about T.J. Newman, her book feels so real and so connected with the reader!

It's coming out in a couple of days so just grab a copy, you know it will be a good read!

Thank you, NetGalley, Hachette Audio and Little, Brown & Company for the privilege to have this copy early!

ALL THE STARS!! I could not get enough of the audio version of this captivating, propulsive, edge of your seat thriller!

What appealed to you the most in this story?

I really cannot say too much about the story itself without creating spoilers, BUT I can tell you that Newman brought the one thing I look for in all my thrillers: that kind of jaw clenching suspense that gets your heart pounding…or in my case white knuckle gripping the steering wheel while listening in the car! The tension in this action-packed story was nonstop, and I was so engaged that I found myself talking back to the characters.

I also loved how even during all the fear and tension in this survival story there was a story about courage, friendship, community, teamwork, love, and sacrifice.

How was the audio narration?

Anytime Joe Morton narrates a thriller and/or mystery, I know it is going to be riveting. He has a way of bringing characters to life with their own personal accents, inflections, and you can really feel the individuality in each character as he tells the story. Not to mention that he has a true gift for ramping up the suspense and tension in any thriller to the point where you are holding your breath and feeling like you are almost able to play a role in the story yourself.

What to expect:

Multiple POV
Suspense
Twists
Community
High stakes tension

How was the pace?

Fast! Warp speed! Did I mention I could not stop listening to this book!?!

Do you recommend this book?

Worst Case Scenario is an absolute must read/listen thriller, and I recommend you grab a copy pronto!!

Thank you, NetGalley and Little Brown, for this gifted audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

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.

Thank you @netgalley @hachetteaudio and @littlebrown for this advance audiobook.
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This is T.J. Newman’s third airplane thriller, but the first I have read. It had all the elements I expected - drama from the first page and lots of heart pounding action scenes. But it also unexpectedly had so much emotion in the relationships between the characters. I think that’s what sets Newman’s books apart from the traditional action filled books of this genre. I also really enjoyed narrator Joe Morton and the special effects used throughout the story.

The audiobook of this novel is an exceptional experience from start to finish. The narration draws you in immediately, and as the story unfolds, you become even more engrossed. The voice acting is compelling, bringing the characters and their emotions to life in a way that adds a new dimension to the already gripping plot.

Even if you aren’t familiar with the technical aspects of the story, the narrator’s clear and engaging delivery makes it easy to follow and understand. The level of research and detail is evident, and it’s impressive how the book captures the magnitude of the catastrophe and the urgency of the situation.

The portrayal of solidarity and quick action among the characters resonates strongly. The narrator's ability to convey the depth and complexity of each character enhances the emotional impact of their journey. This audiobook is not only a thrilling listen but also a moving exploration of human resilience and cooperation in the face of disaster.

3.5 / 5 stars, rounded down

Worst Case Scenario is a fast-paced action thriller following the unthinkable aftermath of a commercial airline accident at a nuclear power plant. T.J. Newman has established a reputation for writing page disaster thrillers, but this is the first that I've read. Honestly, the premises of her other books sound like they would be uncomfortably tense for me.

I have actually lived within view of a nuclear power plant for most of my life. The clouds of steam from the cooling towers are an everyday sight, and I don't even register the monthly test of the emergency sirens anymore. After watching HBO's Chernobyl miniseries and reading Midnight in Chernobyl, I know how dangerous these plants can be. But these types of emergencies are extremely rare.

I appreciated that the author avoided hand-wringing hysteria about nuclear reactors. Her implied critique of how spent nuclear rods are stored is a valid one and an issue which needs a better solution. However, I did think that the details of insurance companies refusing to insure farmland near the plant and a couple's hesitance to start a family for fear of a nuclear disaster did border on that hysteria. As I said, I've lived near a plant my entire life. There's never been an issue with insurance in our region.

Ok, my nitpicking aside, this is a tense thriller that unfortunately suffers from having an ensemble cast of characters that are drawn too broadly. Including fewer characters with more depth and stories on the day of the disaster would have made for a tighter, more tense narrative. Likewise, many chapters are dedicated to the rescue of a child in peril. The prose is tight and pulse-pounding, but despite being compelling, this plotline does not contribute to the overall narrative about the unfolding disaster. It was well-written, but unnecessary and detracted from keeping the tension focused on the characters at the plant.

The narrator of the audiobook (actor Joe Morton) has a wonderful voice, but he did not differentiate between different character voices. With such a large cast of characters, I do wish that more attention had been paid to this aspect of production.

Worst Case Scenario is a compelling thriller, on par with a Hollywood blockbuster. Fans of the genre or readers looking for a rollercoaster ride of excitement will not be disappointed. While the narrator gives a decent performance, I might recommend the print book over the audiobook, especially if you are like me and find it difficult to keep track of all of the ensemble characters.

This review week be posted to Goodreads on August 11, 2024 and Instagram (@goodquietkitty) on August 15, 2024.

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 ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Major thanks to NetGalley & Hachette Audio | Little, Brown & Company for the ALC copy of T.J. Newman’s newest riveting book!

Truly I just loveeeee her writing style. The way that she describes the scenes from start to finish just sucks you in and gives you that adrenaline rush that makes you feel like you’re there in the action with the characters! I also always appreciate her first hand experience from the flight attendant profession that you can see in her writing.

This was another fantastic read from her and the audio was done wonderfully, per usual!

Definitely recommend any of her books!

Once again, TJ Newman knows how deliver a heart-stopping, gut-wrenching plane thriller. You are immediately sucked in from page one. While the plot easily carried it along, what I found most memorable was the profound meaning of community that was present throughout the entire story. I truly fell in love with the characters, and I felt each of their sacrifices in my core. This one will stay with me for a long time.

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 enjoyed the heart pounding reads of T.J. Newman and this one is no exception. Even thought the catastrophe event was caused by a plane falling partly into a nuclear power plant, I am glad it wasn't another story with passengers stuck in a plane. The story literally stars with a bang and doesn't light up from there.
It totally reminded me of the show 24 with the count down on how much time left they have to fix the break at the nuclear plant. I enjoyed the side story of the plane parts landing on the bridge and causing problems there.

The downside to this story is that it's very surfaced without really knowing any of the characters. It was a story about saving the power plant and the kid stuck on the bridge.

The narrator, Joe Morton, did a great job on the pacing and keeping the story super intense.

Thank you @littlebrown @hachetteaudio for a copy of this book.

Read if you like books with:
#️⃣ Multiple POV
⏳ Countdowns
✈️ Plane Crash Plots
🆘 Emergency Response
💨 Fast Pacing

Omg the production of this audiobook was so unexpectedly good with the sound effects with the radioing parts to make you feel like you are listening in on a crackling radio line!

I really enjoyed how the book opens with the POV of the plane crashing and then the on the ground reaction to not knowing what happened even though the reader knows, but watching it unfold and the decisions that are made when accidents occur and we don’t really know anything behind the how or why… also, the way the story looked at the tricking impact in various ways, was so well done especially in the emotional aspect and the many times of decision making and how do you decide with the moral question about one or many being saved.

All in all, this was a thrilling and emotional ride through a tragic accident and it’s impacts and as someone who was in elementary school with 9/11 it definitely brought up those feelings of the omg what happened and what else is coming for me in the well done emotional parts of the plot.

Thank you so much to the publisher for my ARC and ALC copy of this one! I highly recommend it to someone who wants their next bingeable book/audiobook!

TJ Newman has mastered the art of writing suspense novels. If you like catastrophic, disaster movies, you will like this book because each of TJs books are like a disaster movie in book form. This story had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I shed a few tears throughout my listen. There are so many moments I found myself getting anxious or holding my breath and then the next scene I would be misting up and feeling sentimental. It was a roller coaster of emotions! There’s definitely a bit of scientific jargon but if you can wade through that and get past it to realize how it gives the book a very authentic and well researched feel, you will not have a problem staying engaged with the story of all these people making life or death decisions one after the other!

This audio was so well done! Joe Morton did an excellent job. There were several characters he had to narrate and he gave them each their own distinct voice. He’s such a skilled storyteller I was on the edge of my seat listening.

T.J. Newman’s new novel is uniquely terrifying, fast-paced, and riveting. I was hooked from the beginning, starting with the inspiration for the book. This is the story of a massive disaster in a small town (imagine Chernobyl in rural Minnesota) and the people coming together to do whatever is necessary to make a difference.

Jone Morton, the narrator of the audiobook, was a standout. His performance brought the story to life, even capturing the nuances of the different characters. However, the rapid scene changes without a pause make the narrative confusing at times.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company, and Hachette Audio for the advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review! And thank you, TJ Newman, for writing this amazing book!

A pilot in a commercial airliner has a heart attack and crashes his plane into a partially decommissioned nuclear power plant near a small Minnesota town, and the resulting damage could cause a level 8, extinction-level, nuclear accident. There's no time to wait for help, the people on the ground have to make decisions and take action to save their town and potentially, the world. Newman proves she can do more than thrillers on a plane with Worst Case Scenario, because most of the action happens on the ground in the aftermath of crash that happens in the first moments of the book, and and I devoured it in one day. Expect ticking-clock pacing, interconnecting plots, and complex, three dimensional characters. The audio was a great experience, well narrated by Joe Morton. Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little, Brown & Company and Netgalley for digital review copy.

TJ Newman has done it again! I loved Drowning and felt rising waves of anxiety and claustrophobia reading that book, and now this book! A plane crashes into a town...that happens to house a nuclear power plant! I am not typically a crier when I read books, but this one yanked my heartstrings because of the difficult decisions the community had to make. Also, like her other books, Newman had continuous action and life-threatening events that left you with an elephant sitting on your chest. Newman is an auto buy author for me!

As Dr. Seuss would no doubt concur, it is hard to read a book with one's eyes shut or listen to an audio book with the volume turned off. But that is what I tried to do, especially during the first third of Worst Case Scenario. For any similar wimps out there: Stay the course! This was a phenomenal read that included all the feels: abject terror, fierce determination, parental guilt, gut-wrenching parental love, sacrifice, commitment, and ultimately (spoiler alert!) the triumph of the human spirit. I held my breath, I cheered, and I wept. You can get the basic plot line from the book description, but know that author T.J. Newman, whose two previous works, Falling and Drowning, were excellent, has truly mastered the craft of telling a superb story. While I cross my fingers that some of the very real safety issues which give the book its harrowing veracity are addressed by those in position to do so, I'm putting this book on my keeper shelf and eagerly awaiting the author's next nightmare--whoops, I mean masterpiece!

This was a highly anticipated read for me. The audiobook kept me intrigued most of the time however I did find myself getting a bit lost with a lot of the technical details. While it was an okay book overall, it is probably my least favorite by this author.

I enjoyed the opening of this book where we heard from T.J. Newman about the inspiration behind the story, which sounded interesting so the premise was there but this book was utter chaos. There were too many characters so it was difficult to form a connection with any of them, there were too many storylines and I just didn’t care for the nuclear plant setting. There was so much technical information included throughout too about nuclear power and firefighting equipment etc that I found myself getting bored and zoning out. The genre of this book is mystery/thriller and unfortunately I just didn’t feel the thrill and care much for the mystery.