Wow. Just wow.

This is the third book that I've read from this author and it is safe to say that she has an incredible talent at writing suspenseful, crazy thrillers. There are so few books that can grab you from the beginning and then create an atmosphere that just continues to build and build the stress level, while still creating characters that you care about in the middle of situations that seem impossible.

I was pleased to be awarded an ARC of the audio format and I'm really glad that I was able to experience the book in this format. There are several circumstances where there is communication over CB radios and the production and audio format is just so realistic - it really adds to the experience.

The plot revolves around a plane that crashes into a nuclear power plant in a small town. I can honestly say that I wasn't sure about ANOTHER book involving a plane crash, but I can say after finishing the book that it is a completely different stand alone book that does involve a plane crash, but it is only the conduit for a very different emergency situation.

The biggest compliment I can give this book is that it COMPLETELY drew me in and had me thinking, "okay, one more chapter" as I continued to listen well into the night. Things went from bad to worse tension-wise and I found myself holding my breath at certain times, and then having to go find Kleenex at other times. For whatever reason, this book REALLY hit me hard with certain sacrifices and I'll admit to many tears.

So, a definite 5 star listen from me. Ms. Newman is three for three with me, and that is not an easy thing to do.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

This is one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to all year, I loved the addition of the special effects like the police radios or broadcasts, I feel like I need to take a nap after the constant influx of adrenaline from the suspense.

OH MY GOODNESS. How is this the first book I have read from this author?! The way this book covered so many different aspects of a disaster was pure perfection. You can tell Newman really does her research prior to writing a novel. I devoured this book in one day, as I was UNABLE to put it down! I felt like I learned so much about these characters that I was literally crying while reading. IMMEDIATELY add this fast paced read to your TBR! The audiobook, itself, is extremely immersive!

5 stars

Okay. I see what the T.J. Newman hype is all about!

This is my first book by this author, and I am expediting reading the back catalogue as well as adding Newman to my instant TBR list for the foreseeable future.

Get ready for some tight muscles and extra cardio; you won't be able to put this down (or hit pause) until you get to the very end and find out what has happened to whom, all of the repercussions, and more.

Readers are wedged immediately into intense action. The pilot of a commercial flight has a heart attack and - as expected - chaos ensues. While the impetus is shocking on its own, the aftermath is where the bulk of the novel and thrills take place. Obviously, since the thrilling part requires some element of surprise, I'll leave all plotting and outcomes to readers to discover on their own.

Fans of suspense will be right in their element here, as long as they can recognize that a situation like this must, realistically, involve people of all ages: children included. Readers who need a lighter, less realistic thrill must look elsewhere. The rest of us? We'll be right here, on the edge of our seats, waiting for the next Newman novel with bated breath.

Thank you Hachette Audio for the free audiobook!

Talk about an accurately titled book! Wow- if I rated the whole book just based off the last few chapters alone, it'd still be 5 stars. Truly an emotional rollercoaster that ripped my heart out and then put it back together again. I felt like this book really shows how people come together in tragedy and watching that unfold in this story, seriously touched my heart.

Now, it's not all sunshine and rainbows, lets be clear, LOL! This was INTENSE! Like so intense that quite a bit of it felt over my head, but that didn't stop me from being glued to the story the whole time.

You can definitely tell how much research went into this book! It felt so realistic, sometimes even too much so!

I can't say much about the plot itself without giving things away, but you won't be disappointed. I've read all three of her books now and this is definitely her best yet!

As far as the audiobook production, it exceeded expectations. Not only did I truly feel every emotion through Joe Morton's narration, but the special effects and airplane radio sounds, etc. really made this an immersive listening experience. I definitely wouldn't have felt as sucked into the story had I read this in print.

2024 Review 080. Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman, narrated by Joe Morton

Audio duration : 8 hours 13 mins

T.J. Newman has done it again.

This book will grab you and not let go until you've finished it!!!

Originally, I was determined to wait for this to come out physically, but when I found it was available on NetGalley as an audiobook, I knew I had to request it.

So thank you to the author, Net Galley and Hachette Audio for an advance copy by audio book especially as I got accepted for it on my birthday.

I don't know how T.J. Newman creates the plots for these books, but this is going to be another bestseller.

I will be buying it as soon as it comes out to go along with my hardback copies of Falling and Drowning.

This book has moments which are very emotional and hearbreaking to listen to, but this is another fantastic book.

I listened to this book in 2 days.

Joe Morton does an absolutely fantastic job of narrating this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, TJ Newman, Hachette Audio and Little Brown & Company for the advanced audio copy.

5*
*****



Description from NetGalley :
"Following her explosive debut thriller Falling and its harrowing follow-up Drowning, #1 internationally bestselling author T.J. Newman is back with Worst Case Scenario.

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.

In this heart-stopping thriller, ordinary people—power plant employees, firefighters, teachers, families, neighbors, and friends— are thrust into an extraordinary situation as they face the ultimate test of their lives. It 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."

What a roller coaster! When a plane crashes into a nuclear power plant, this is quite honestly the Worst Case Scenario.

This book has a wonderful cast of characters who will have you sitting on the edge of your seat for. Beautiful relationships between family, friends, ex-lovers and mostly a community. A community who all come together to save all of us. I laughed, I cried I screamed and I binged this Audiobook in 2 days. TJ Newman has done it again.

This is the second book by T.J. Newman who knows how to perfectly execute a fast paced page turner.

Worst Case Scenario is about a plane filled with passengers which crashes into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota, therefore making it ground zero for a catastrophic national crisis with global implications.

Maybe because it was the audio version whereas the last T.J. Newman book I read was an ebook but sometimes I found it hard when jumping between perspectives, not to say that the narrator wasn't brilliant, he was. Although as much as I loved the action and the pull on heart strings sometimes I found myself wondering where we were in amongst the action.

If you're looking for a fast-paced action adventure showing how a community comes together, making sacrifices to save each other then you'll love this book. I did.

Thanks to the publisher and the author for the advanced copy of this book.

This audio book was action packed the entire start to finish, and so well done with the voice acting!! Made you feel like you were in the story.

What would you do when faced with the worst case scenario?? This book poses that question and delves into the lives of several characters during one of the worst tragedies to happen, and the actions/effects that take place to and with these individuals!
This was my first book by this author, but this was a fantastic, fast paced, action packed, and heart pumping book that will keep you flipping the pages to know what happens next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the audiobook of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

A plane 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 book follows the perspectives of various people as they deal with this situation.

The narrator of the audiobook was brilliant, with the right amount of inflection in his voice to portray the different scenes and moods, and not over-exaggerating the voices of the various characters. The book started with a bang then petered out as the focus was more on the rescuers than the people on the plane, which impacted the thrill factor. It was difficult to keep track of the many characters and I didn't feel connected to any one of them. This was my least favourite book of the series.

This is the best book I have read so far this year. There is an author's note at the beginning of this book that reminds us that the author is a former flight attendant who, when researching her first book, asked countless pilots questions like, "what is your worst fear?" One answer stood out from the rest and became this book. This page turner thriller is T.J Newman's best book, so far. In a perfect storm of events, a plane falls from the sky and slams into the small town of Wateka Minnesota. The crash causes numerous catastrophes like a 17 car pileup on the only major road into town, and a van dangling off a bridge. By far the biggest catastrophe of all is that parts of the plane have severely damaged the town's nuclear power plant - which if there is a melt down, could result in a total annihilation of much of the US. All of this is described in vivid, heart stopping detail and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat turning pages. This is a very well written story, fast paced with believable and very likable characters. The chapters are a countdown clock, keeping the tension up as the time to cataclysmic failure of the plant moves ever closer. The characters are confronted with difficult decisions and impossible to solve problems, which they face with courage, conviction and determination. This story also emphasizes the importance of community and family and the strength that can be found in both,

Thank you to NetGalley, Hatchette Audio, and author T.J. Newman for the advance digital copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This audiobook was all-consuming. I listened to it in one day and almost ended up in tears at work because of it! Every twist and challenge kept me on the edge of my seat. The production was immersive - I felt like I was there hearing the radio transmissions in real time! I love it when audiobook producers and narrators go the extra mile to make it more than just someone reading a story. I'd highly recommend this audiobook!

I've read all of T.J. Newman's previous thrillers, and this was by far my favorite. I loved the various perspectives we got from all of the different people in town. I loved seeing the human spirit as they all banded together to support each other. 4.5 stars rounded up - only because I caught myself having trouble keeping track of perspectives every now and then. Check this one out when it releases!

Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman
Narrated by Joe Morton
8 hours, 13 minutes at 1.0 speed
5 hours 29 minutes at 1.5 speed

Whew! Let me gather my thoughts!

T.J. Newman has managed to deliver her third electrifying, heart racing ADRENALINE THRILLER and you had better have your tissues handy-first for shredding , and then to wipe up your tears!

The International Nuclear Event Scale tracks nuclear disasters, using 7️⃣ levels.

Level 7️⃣ is considered a Major Accident, with only two on record: Fukushima and Chernobyl.

There has never been a Level 8️⃣- UNTIL NOW

It was the Perfect Storm. The Captain of the Coastal Airlines 757 suffered a widow maker heart attack at 35,000 while the First Officer is in the lavatory. There isn’t time to declare an emergency or warn the passengers and the flight attendant in the cockpit is unable to reach the radio to call for help for the 295 souls on board.

The plane begins to NOSE DIVE toward the Clover Hill Nuclear Power Plant.

When the WORST CASE SCENARIO happens to humanity-the BEST of humanity is what pulls us through.

This is the story of HEROS-the ordinary people of Waketa, Minnesota which is GROUND ZERO for this catastrophic event with global implications.

You will root for Steve Tostig, Joss Vance, Dani Allen, Ethan Ross and President Dawson (to name a few) as they make difficult, gut wrenching decisions and risk life and limb.

AND, you will cry for the VICTIMS.

I was GRIPPED from the opening sentences and I paired my reading with the audiobook and finished in ONE TENSE SITTING! Joe Morton’s narration was smooth, and I enjoyed the CB (Citizen’s Band) radio transmissions that were peppered throughout. If you listen to AUDIOBOOKS, I can highly recommend this format!

T. J. Newman’s debut novel, Falling will soon be a major motion picture from Universal Studios, and I can easily see this book translating to the big screen as well.

AVAILABLE August 13, 2024
Don’t Miss It!

Thank You to both Little, Brown & Company and Hatchette Audio for the gifted copies provided by NetGalley and NetGalley Shelf. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

As soon as I saw the synopsis for this book I knew I’d love it. This book has such an interesting premise, and it was full of intense action.

This book is very well written, and it’s very clear that the author did lots of research and ensured that everything was scientifically accurate.

As I listened, I realized that to fully understand everything going on in this story, you need to have more than a basic understanding of how nuclear power plants work. I had a somewhat difficult time following and understanding exactly what was going on at times. I got the gist but I felt like I was missing things because I just don’t have the knowledge to truly comprehend what was happening. I even watched YouTube videos about nuclear power plants to try to understand more. 😅

There were a lot of characters and I had a tough time keeping track of who was who and how people were related at times. I listened on audio, and the story would shift from perspective to perspective without warning and it left me confused at times.

The narrator did a good job overall, but he rarely changed his infection to indicate dialogue. He didn’t so much as raise his voice one octave for female voices. The narration just made a story that was already somewhat difficult for me to follow, even more difficult.

Overall, it is not a shortcoming of the author or the story that I had a hard time comprehending parts of the book. I think this is an objectively very good book. I just had personal struggles with it!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the advance copy of this highly anticipated book!

Worst Case Scenario
By: T. J. Newman
Pub date: August 13, 2025
Publisher: Little, Brown & company
5✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️
Hold on to your seats for one action-packed, on the edge of your seat novel the entire novel.
✈️
Newman does disasters well. Her other novels, Falling and Drowning along with this one is gripping. If you are a frequent flyer, be for warned as this one has a commercial airline crash and the after affects.
✈️
The plane crashed on a nuclear power plant in Waketa, Minnesota. The implications of the town are catastrophic. As the witnesses and perspectives come out the tension builds.
✈️
A nail bitter which tugs at your emotions, and its very realistic.
Thank you Little, Brown and Company for the gifted audio.

Worst Case Scenario
TJ Newman
Pub 8/13
5☆

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.

My Thoughts: ALL THE STARS.
Another nail biting, edge of your seat, winner from Newman! Nobody does action packed, gripping thrillers like she does.

Worst Case Scenario was a wild ride (gone off the rails) from beginning to end. It was intense, emotion packed, and impossible to put down. I loved the amazing cast of selfless characters, the MN setting, and the unforgettable story that most definitely needs to be made into a movie!

I also love how Newman also teaches us things as she’s thrilling the pants off of us. I knew it was a major player, but this definitely put in to mind-blowing perspective the significance and importance of the Mississippi River.

As soon as I saw that Joe Morton (I’ll forever think of him as Papa Pope) was narrating I knew I had to listen. His voice is just pure magic and SO perfect for this story. I was all in before he even finished reading the introduction. 😆 I loved this audio so much.

Thank you so much Hachette Audio | Little, Brown & Company and NetGalley for the #gifted ALC.

The must read popcorn thriller of the summer!! TJ Newman has done it again and written a fast-paced, unputdownable disaster thrill ride involving a terrible plane crash, a nuclear power plant on the verge of meltdown and several life or death rescue situations that keep you flipping the pages until the very satisfying ending! Great on audio and highly recommended for fans of Midnight in Chernobyl. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Do you want a book that is explosive, riveting and heart-stopping? This is it! It had me in its clutches and I was all in. It’s another plane and most of it takes place where it goes down. It had shocking scenarios and heartfelt moments. I loved the way the author wrote it and I chose to listen to this as an audiobook and the narrator, Joe Morton did an excellent job. He really delivered the believability and I got goosebumps and was tearful few times. I highly recommend this.
Thanks Hachette Audio via NetGalley.

While I really enjoyed both Falling and Drowning, Worst Case Scenario fell a bit flat for me.

This story opened up with a bang and I was instantly sucked in. The story starts off as a race against time, which reminded me a lot of the show 24. However, after about the 60% mark, the plot just felt like it was dragging out versus the heart pounding race against time, and I found myself just wanting everything to be resolved.

This is my first read from T. J. Newman, but it certainly won’t be my last! I was completely pulled in right from the prologue. The action was non-stop as the cast of characters struggled to understand what was happening and how to prevent further catastrophe. I finished this book incredibly quickly because I had a hard time putting it down - I had to know what would happen to the characters and their families. By the end, I was sobbing.

It’s rare for a thriller to be so action-heavy, but still create loveable characters that I can become emotionally invested in. Newman did a great job of focusing on the crisis and urgent responses, while simultaneously highlighting the family and community bonds. I also really appreciated the themes of sacrifice that ran throughout this book! The narrator on the audio was great, and I appreciated the interpretation of the sound effects and announcements from automated voices.

If you are looking for a fast-paced, action-packed thriller with strong emotional beats, you should absolutely pick this one up!