Welp. This was a blast and soooo fun to listen too. It was like listening to an action packed movie. Did I know what was going on during it? Not the entire time. Some of the jargon went over my head but it was still engaging and I ended up tearing up multiple times. This was exciting and I highly recommend listening to it on audio.

A pilot's heart attack leads to a commercial airliner crashing into a nuclear power plant in Waketa, Minnesota, triggering an unprecedented Level 8 nuclear disaster. The residents, including power plant employees and local heroes, must band together to prevent a global catastrophe and save their community.

TJ Newman writes adrenaline-inducing thrillers! Drowning was one of my favorites, while I had mixed feelings about Falling, so I wasn't sure what to expect from Worst Case Scenario. Like her other books, this one involves a plane crash; however, most of the story unfolds on the ground rather than in the air, which makes the cover somewhat misleading. I had mixed feelings about this one. The beginning gripped me, and I was invested in the crash and its immediate aftermath. But as the story progressed, it started to drag, with too many subplots to keep up with, none of which fully captured my attention. While the action was there and the premise was intriguing, I never felt truly engaged. I ended up listening to the audiobook, and Joe Morton did a fantastic job narrating. I could see this book making a great movie. Overall, this was a three-star read for me.

TJ Newman's book are always a chefs kiss. The stories are amazing and easy to immerse yourself into. Her third book Worst Case Scenario did not disappoint! Throwing a nose dive into a nuclear power plant might feel like jumping the shark but it is so far from it. The way the story keeps you on the edge of your seat trying to find the outcome is beautifully painful. Plus, now I want to dable in CB radio! Great job T.J.

Another edge of your seat thriller by T.J. Newman. When a pilot suffers a fatal heart attack mid-flight, the plane crashes, depositing parts in a large area of a small town including a nuclear power plant. Told in alternating viewpoints, this becomes a wrenching tale about life & death, sacrifice & bravery, community, and the value of a life. It was an addictive read that was as much terror as a bold account of humanity. What choice do you make when there are no good options? Whose life is more important? If you have been afraid to read T,J. Newman novels for fear of never being able to get on a plane, I urge you to reconsider. Her stories have such value and are thought provoking. Maybe just don’t read them on a plane! :) Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown & Company for this ARC. This is my honest review.

Worst Case Scenario is the third book I've read by this author. They all relate to airline disasters.

This one differs from the last book in that it tells the story of the people on the ground and not the flight passengers.

There is a lot of tension throughout the entire book. The characters had a lot of depth and I liked the lengths that they were willing to go to in order to help others.

I alternated between the print and audio book. The narration was phenomenal and there were even some sound effects added in.

I can't say enough to describe how fascinating this authors books are.

Thanks to netgalley and Hachette Audio for the arc.

Happy pub day to “Worst Case Scenario” by @tj_author!

TJ Newman is back with another heart-pounding thriller that will leave you breathless (and possibly unlock new fears in you like it did in me 😅). In “Worst Case Scenario”, the stakes couldn’t be higher as a commercial airliner crashes near a nuclear power plant, setting off a chain of events that threatens not only the small town of Waketa, Minnesota, but the entire world. The story begins when a pilot suffers a heart attack at 35,000 feet, sending the plane hurtling toward disaster. What follows is a gripping narrative that explores the chaos and fear that ensues as the town becomes ground zero for a catastrophic national crisis.

As someone who adored “Drowning”, I was thrilled to get my hands on advanced copies of this book, both in digital and audio formats. “Worst Case Scenario” did not disappoint. In typical TJ Newman fashion, the book is action-packed from the first page to the last, filled with tension, drama, and characters who will steal your heart—only to break it in the most devastating ways.

One of the things that stood out to me in this book was how real and possible the scenario felt, making it even more terrifying. While the audio version wasn’t my favourite due to the narrator’s performance, the story itself is so compelling that I highly recommend picking it up in digital or physical form. If you’re a fan of intense, realistic thrillers full of courageous, bad-ass heroes, “Worst Case Scenario” is a must-read that you won’t be able to put down!

Thank you to @littlebrown, @hachetteaudio and @netgalley for the advanced copies!

This is a Suspense Action Pack book. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what will happen next, and it also will pull every emotion out of you. I cried so much while reading this book. This book shows how one event can hurt so many people, but it also shows how small towns can pull together to get things done. It shows that during the worst will pull out that true person that is inside of you. The ending of this book made me cry so hard, and I loved it so much. This book was so great, and I loved it. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of Worst Case Scenario, and I thought it only made the book better. There were some really nice touches, such as voices over the radio, that made the experience all the more immersive. If you can read the audiobook version, I highly recommend it!

This book turned out to be as intense, thrilling, and heartbreaking as the title suggests. We follow a number of different characters, from schoolteachers to first responders to the president of the United States, so we see how the events of the story unfold from many angles. It was well-done though, so it didn’t feel confusing or jarring. So many of the characters were really likable, with complicated backstories and values that are tested over and over. The descriptions throughout the book were great, and the explanations of a nuclear disaster with the resulting trickle effects was explained well. This isn’t going to be a book for someone who might find the theme upsetting, as it had a tone reminiscent of 9/11, but if you’re looking for a good thriller, this book definitely fits the bill.

Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little, Brown & Company, and NetGalley for the review copy of Worst Case Scenario! All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

WOW! I immediately rushed to order a hard copy of this book! Such a unique premise! It’s so crazy to think this could actually happen in real life! I loved the characters in this book. I loved the narrators. This was executed so well! Drowning has been on my shelf for a while now, but I’m running to read it next!

I can’t believe this is only TJ Newman's third novel and that she hasn’t been writing all her life. She writes the most amazingly cinematic thrillers. She knows how to bait the hook, snag you, and then reel you in to the point that it’s near impossible to put her books down until you've finished them. I am so looking forward to the film version of Drowning, which I have no doubt will be a massive success. And I hope Worst Case Scenario will get optioned for a film version as well. I had the pleasure of reading an eARC of the book recently and was more than thrilled to get a chance to listen to the audio version as well.

Worst Case Scenario has a killer opening, with a pilot having a heart attacked at 35K feet, sending the plane spiraling down…where it slams into a nuclear power plant! Not being confined to a plane (like Newman’s previous novels) WCS has a larger cast of characters. And Newman uses this new ‘open world’ to her advantaged. There are multiple storylines here (all with connection to the incident of course) meaning there are more characters for us to care about…and more characters for her to put seriously intense situations. And though we have the overarching big picture possible plant meltdown storyline, there are several more more personal stories happening, which are every bit as intense and emotional. Newman is fast becoming one of my favorite thriller writers. Characters you'll care about, a great plot, and some insanely intense story beats make this a book you can't miss. My only complaint…wish she wrote faster, lol. Sorry but one book a year just isn’t enough. If are even remotely a fan of thrilling stories, don’t wait, grab this one ASAP! And to Ms. Newman…keep up the excellent work and bring on the next. I’d like to thank Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review an advanced copy of the audio version of T.J. Newman’s Worst Case Scenario.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2PJQ0DKQRX8I0/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

"Mr. President, a plane has crashed into a nuclear power facility."

With one bone chilling sentence, the emotionally intense Worst Case Scenario, by the phenomenal bestselling thriller author T.J. Newman, begins a very scary story that unfortunately highlights how inadequately unprepared we are for such a cataclysmic world ending event.

Thoroughly researched, we are given simplistic explanations, as the President says, "talk to me like I'm five. I'm a smart guy but I'm no nuclear engineer." But understanding what is happening doesn't make it any less horrific. What makes it a turn paging thriller is this writer's ability in just a few short chapters to make us care about the heroic everyday characters, from brave widower fire chief Steve and his teen son Matt, Ethan who gives all as the plant manager, and Joss, a scientist, who beyond all odds will do everything to keep her promise to the president that he, that everyone, will have a future...well almost everyone.

I never heard voice actor Joe Morton
perform before, and now I need him on every audiobook. Between the author's words and his breathtaking emotionally draining performance I was just a sobbing puddle of tears. Reading and listening was almost too immersive an experience for my nerves.

The author's previous books, Falling and Drowning, both 5 Star reviews, have been optioned for the movies. For me, this latest of her thrillers, will be the blockbuster in Hollywood. The last chapter will have even the heartless feel broken but still smiling, with a glint of hope, and that's the best case scenario when finishing a T.J. Newman catastrophic event thriller.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

T.J. Newman takes the wildest scenarios and turns them into stories with high-action plots and characters in impossible situations. Worst Case Scenario definitely had me questioning if I ever want to ride a place again. The immediate tension, the thrill, the fear keep you invested and hoping for the best outcome for the characters you quickly become attached to. Fun and exciting action thriller. Thoroughly enjoyed Joe Morton's narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.

Awesome! I was blown away by this book! I read T. J. Newman’s 2nd book Drowning and I couldn’t put it down! In my opinion this one is even better!!

The idea her book is based on ( included in the audio I listened to) is a fear that has probably entered many people’s imagination; A plane hitting a nuclear plant! I was on the edge of my seat. Rooting for the main characters and the whole town!

Newman does a wonderful job at bringing the reader into the minds of the characters. I was scared, terrified, devastated, relieved, overjoyed and overcome with tears as I listened to this book! I experienced so many emotions as I followed the community members through their attempt to avert a nuclear disaster.

Not knowing anything about how nuclear reactors work or how they are stored didn’t hinder my enjoyment of this novel. Newman took me through the mechanics and steps needed for me to understand the process as it was happening.

One of my favorite things about the book is that it’s believable. The way some people are hero’s and others cowards. The way some people sit back and watch others and some jump in to help. I don’t know what I would do? Would I be too terrified to help or would I step up to the plate?

I cried lots of tears at the end. It just felt so real! The characters became dear to me. Joe Morton made them absolutely come alive! Excellent narration!!

I really think you will like this book and I hope it will be made into a major motion picture! 5 glowing stars!!

Many thanks to T. J. Newman, Hachette Audio/ Little, Brown & Company for the ARC via NetGalley!!!

I have read Falling and Drowning by T.J. Newman and I don't know how she's going to top this disaster novel. I was on the edge of my seat wondering how they were going to resolve a plan crashing into a nuclear power plant. My only feedback is there were a lot of characters and at times how certain narrators fit into the story. I wish there were less viewpoints so they could be more distinct.

Thanks to T.J. Newman, Netgalley and Hachette Audio | Little, Brown & Company for allowing me to listen to this audiobook ARC.

This was my first T.J. Newman book, and while it won’t be my last, I am going to need to wait a few months before I pick up another one! This was the most suspenseful book I’ve ever read, and I literally sat screaming in traffic while listening. Also, Joe Morton as a narrator was absolutely perfect at making me so stressed I wanted to pause every minute.
However, between the moments of absolutely insane intensity, this book was packed with the goodness of humanity. I was stressed because I genuinely cared about every single character I met. I wanted everyone to get their happy ending, even when I knew that wasn’t going to be a possibility. Each character felt fully developed, gave a unique point of view, and influenced how I felt about the plot. And with a list of 20 or so characters, that’s an impressive feat.
I will also note that I have zero knowledge about nuclear reactor meltdowns (surprise). But Newman made sure to include enough information throughout the book so that it was easy to understand how life-or-death every moment had become. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of seamless ways to include that much information, so chunks of the story felt more like a textbook excerpt. I knew the information helped ramp up my anxiety, but it was still difficult to not just fully skip forward to get back in the action.
Overall, if you’re looking for something that will grab your attention, this could definitely be an option! My only warning would be that three of the main characters are children and they are involved in very intense moments, including the death of parents. I know that can be an extremely sensitive subject, and wouldn’t want to gloss over it!
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown & Company for the free advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review!

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4.5 hearts

This author never disappoints in providing fast-paced action with possible dire consequences. Worst Case Scenario delivers a frightening case with a plane and a nuclear plant.

The points of view we get are from ordinary people who give their all for others and the greater good. Our primary characters include Steve, the firefighter who recently lost his wife to cancer and is raising his son. Jocelyn, a single woman and scientist who heads the team for the area in handling nuclear disasters. Ethan, the director of the nuclear plant. Carla, another firefighter, desperate to save a little boy caught in a vehicle in the middle of a fire.

I really enjoyed the action, as well as the competent people who tried their best to save everyone. There is an emotional intensity to the horror of the facts, and when things don't work as they should. The selflessness and courage were amazing to see.

I will say I wish there had been a bit more about the aftermath and how things were improved for the future. I'd like to learn a bit more about the situation of nuclear plants and storage of spent fuel rods. Also, there was a trucker who helped with a couple of different aspects of the shutdown and then saving the small boy who I thought should have got more credit.

Worst Case Scenario was exciting and thought-provoking. I recommend this author's thrillers. I have loved them all.

Narration:
The narrator allowed me to stay in the story, which I always appreciate. The voices were comfortable and seemed appropriate to the characters. I listened at my normal 1.5x speed.

It's a good thing I didn't wear makeup to work because I would be a mess right now. Oof, I wasn't expecting to cry so hard at the end there. Wow.

I've been 50/50 on TJ Newman up until now. I had some strong feelings about her first book (not the good kind) but I took a chance on her second book and I loved it. I'm going to go ahead and just assume that book one was a fluke for me, because here we are at book three and I am floored once again.

The action is nonstop from start to finish. I found myself actually holding my breath as I listened because some of the scenes were so intense. She writes with great description so that it was truly a movie in my mind while I read.

There was action and heart, fear and excitement. I wanted to know what happened from start to finish. I craved to know the ending! But I also dreaded it a little because you know that not everyone can make it out alive in such a scenario.

This was an incredible book. I will probably find myself snagging a hard copy to reread at some point. I highly recommend this one.

Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
336 pages
Releasing today August 13th, 2024

A pilot suffers a heart attack while 35,000 feet in the air, causing a commercial airliner filled with close to 300 passengers to crash into a nuclear power plant in Minnesota, leading to a national crisis. Power plant workers, firefighters, and those in the community surrounding the power plant must work together to do the unthinkable & make extremely hard decisions to save their friends and family.

What an emotional and tense ride!!!! T.J. Newman knows how to catch you & pull you in right from the start. Her descriptive writing style allows me to envision everything & make me feel like I’m there. The characters in this book all are faced with the unthinkable & have to make extremely hard decisions in a short amount of time. Each chapter started with “___ hours remaining” which made my emotions heighten. A thrilling ride!

Read if you like:
✨Intense storylines
✨Emotional reads
✨Multiple perspectives
✨On the edge of your seat feeling

Thank you @tj_author @littlebrown & @netgalley for an eARC & ALC!

#tjnewmanauthor #tjnewman #thriller #suspense #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #arc #alc #littlebrowncompanypublishing

When a pilot suffers a fatal heart attack, his plane crashes into a nuclear power plant outside of a small town in Minnesota, and the countdown to global cataclysm has started. Can the specialists at the plant and the town itself work together to avert disaster?

TJ Newman has readers in the palm of her hand as they turn page after page, hanging on every word, clinging to the hope that things will be okay on both a micro and macro level. That is one of Newman’s great gifts. She not only makes the reader care about the high-concept stakes but also the people involved. If you enjoyed her two previous thrillers, then this is a must-read. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading a TJ Newman book, this is a great starting place.

The audiobook is absolutely fantastic. The narrator does an admirable job of making every character come alive individually, which is no small feat. He deftly navigates the technical parts of the book, and it is never dull or pedantic, just propulsive.

Thank you Hachette Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Action-packed story that both thrills and terrifies! The scenario is plausible and definitely makes you worry that it could truly happen. TJ Newman excelled at fleshing out the characters; you could feel everything they felt and really got to know them. There were a few eye-rolling moments but otherwise I was swept away into the story and recommend it if you’re looking for a fast-paced, suspenseful read.