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Worst Case Scenario
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.
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.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 13, 2024
1139 people are currently reading
30514 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Newman
4 books4,041 followersT.J. NEWMAN is a former bookseller and flight attendant whose first novel, Falling, became a publishing sensation and debuted at number two on the New York Times bestseller list. Her second novel, Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421 was an instant New York Times bestseller. Both books made a number of best book of the year list, are published in thirty-five countries and will soon be major motion pictures after selling in two separate headline making seven-figure deals: Falling with Universal Pictures, and Drowning with Warner Brothers. T.J. lives in Phoenix, Arizona.
Her new novel - WORST CASE SCENARIO - comes out August 13.
Her new novel - WORST CASE SCENARIO - comes out August 13.
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August 13, 2024
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 has 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!
Both of T. J. Newman’s books will soon be a major motion pictures-Falling from Universal Studios, and Drowning from Warner Bros. And I can easily see this book translating to the big screen as well.
AVAILABLE NOW!!
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!
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 has 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!
Both of T. J. Newman’s books will soon be a major motion pictures-Falling from Universal Studios, and Drowning from Warner Bros. And I can easily see this book translating to the big screen as well.
AVAILABLE NOW!!
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!
May 24, 2025
We all have to agree on one fact: T. J. Newman is the queen of action-packed, adrenaline-pumping, heart-throbbing thrillers that readers devour in one sitting, biting their nails and squirming at the edge of their seats. Each of her novels is often better than the blockbusters you watch, and "Worst Case Scenario" is no exception. It's an action-thriller masterpiece that makes you visualize the scenes in your mind! The building pressure and climactic moments make you scream and pray not to lose one of your favorite characters.
I even imagined my own cast for a potential movie adaptation: Kate Winslet as the kickass, no-nonsense, brainy, relentless Joss Vance; Brad Pitt as Steve Tostig, the recently widowed, emotionally restrained, leading firefighter; Colin Farrell as the analytical, problem-solving Ethan Rosen; Kurt Russell as Marion, the secret hero who uses his wits and experience to communicate in town; Hilary Swank as the caring, hardworking, sacrificing firefighter Dani Allen; Glen Powell as President Dawson (I'm still reeling from his scene in "Twisters" with the wet white shirt); Ana de Armas as Carla; and Paul Mescal as Levon.
Here's the main plot of the book:
Imagine an accomplished pilot suffering a widow-maker heart attack while 295 lives are in his hands at 35,000 feet. The plane crashes into the worst possible place: a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minneapolis, creating damage more catastrophic than expected, potentially reaching Level 8 on the nuclear event scale—a level higher than Hiroshima and Chernobyl. This catastrophic national crisis has global implications, including a leak from the plant that contaminates the Mississippi River, affecting agricultural resources, forcing evacuations, and disrupting the entire balance of habitation sources.
The book follows numerous perspectives and crowded characters dealing with the situation in their own ways, including the White House crew. The entire world's eyes are on Waketa's race against time, with a countdown of 16 hours and 38 minutes. The bravery shown, the solutions embraced, and the sacrifices made for the greater good of humanity are genuine and extremely touching.
The tempo increases with each chapter, the situations escalate as the ticking bomb of time moves quickly. You devour the pages, fingers crossed for the crisis room in Waketa, the firefighters who defy orders to save a five-year-old boy's life, Marion's bunk crisis management, the church congregation's efforts to bring people together and send forces to the most needed places. There are too many heroes in this book, too many heartwarming moments, and one heart-wrenching moment that made me cry so hard.
My emotions were everywhere. I was scared, thrilled, exhilarated. I cried, cursed, my heart was literally in my mouth. My blood ran cold! This is an amazing heart-pounding and wrenching novel with a meaningful conclusion that you shouldn’t miss.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for providing this fantastic page-turner's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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I even imagined my own cast for a potential movie adaptation: Kate Winslet as the kickass, no-nonsense, brainy, relentless Joss Vance; Brad Pitt as Steve Tostig, the recently widowed, emotionally restrained, leading firefighter; Colin Farrell as the analytical, problem-solving Ethan Rosen; Kurt Russell as Marion, the secret hero who uses his wits and experience to communicate in town; Hilary Swank as the caring, hardworking, sacrificing firefighter Dani Allen; Glen Powell as President Dawson (I'm still reeling from his scene in "Twisters" with the wet white shirt); Ana de Armas as Carla; and Paul Mescal as Levon.
Here's the main plot of the book:
Imagine an accomplished pilot suffering a widow-maker heart attack while 295 lives are in his hands at 35,000 feet. The plane crashes into the worst possible place: a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minneapolis, creating damage more catastrophic than expected, potentially reaching Level 8 on the nuclear event scale—a level higher than Hiroshima and Chernobyl. This catastrophic national crisis has global implications, including a leak from the plant that contaminates the Mississippi River, affecting agricultural resources, forcing evacuations, and disrupting the entire balance of habitation sources.
The book follows numerous perspectives and crowded characters dealing with the situation in their own ways, including the White House crew. The entire world's eyes are on Waketa's race against time, with a countdown of 16 hours and 38 minutes. The bravery shown, the solutions embraced, and the sacrifices made for the greater good of humanity are genuine and extremely touching.
The tempo increases with each chapter, the situations escalate as the ticking bomb of time moves quickly. You devour the pages, fingers crossed for the crisis room in Waketa, the firefighters who defy orders to save a five-year-old boy's life, Marion's bunk crisis management, the church congregation's efforts to bring people together and send forces to the most needed places. There are too many heroes in this book, too many heartwarming moments, and one heart-wrenching moment that made me cry so hard.
My emotions were everywhere. I was scared, thrilled, exhilarated. I cried, cursed, my heart was literally in my mouth. My blood ran cold! This is an amazing heart-pounding and wrenching novel with a meaningful conclusion that you shouldn’t miss.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for providing this fantastic page-turner's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
twitter<
July 21, 2024
Hold onto your seats, folks! TJ Newman's third book is here, and it's a rollercoaster ride from start to finish! I couldn't put this one down—it’s that gripping. The story kicks off with a bang as a plane plunges towards Earth, destined to crash into a nuclear plant. Talk about a heart-pounding start!
As the characters scramble to solve one life-threatening problem after another, I found myself frantically flipping pages on my Kindle. The tension, the fear—it’s all there, keeping you hooked. Newman has a rare talent for writing a book that not only educate but also keep you on the edge of your seat. She absolutely nailed it with this one!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for letting me dive into this ARC. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this pulse-pounding read!
As the characters scramble to solve one life-threatening problem after another, I found myself frantically flipping pages on my Kindle. The tension, the fear—it’s all there, keeping you hooked. Newman has a rare talent for writing a book that not only educate but also keep you on the edge of your seat. She absolutely nailed it with this one!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for letting me dive into this ARC. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this pulse-pounding read!
August 28, 2024
4.5⭐
Genre ~ suspense thriller
Setting ~ Minnesota
Publication date ~ August 13, 2024
Publisher ~ Little, Brown & Company
Est Page Count ~ 321 (p+ 43 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 13 minutes
Narrator ~ Joe Morton
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ plane crash into a nuclear plant
Road trip listen with the family and holy cannoli with mini mint chocolate chips this was a top notch listen. We were happy that we were in a truck and not an airplane.
There are quite a few smarty pants characters to keep track of, exactly who I’d want on the line trying to protect the town and its people. I might have shed a tear, or sixteen, for some of them. Yes, some things were implausible, but the action is non stop, like seriously, it never lets up.
If you like intensely gripping, suspensefully thrilling thrillers then you’ll want to put this one on your never ending TBR.
Narration notes:
What a performance! Love the added sound effects from a megaphone, intercom and cb radio, which really gives it that extra pizzazz I enjoy in my audiobooks, especially thrillers.
Husband’s in depth review:
Action packed. Some unrealistic scenarios. Good book. Will read this author again.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ suspense thriller
Setting ~ Minnesota
Publication date ~ August 13, 2024
Publisher ~ Little, Brown & Company
Est Page Count ~ 321 (p+ 43 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 13 minutes
Narrator ~ Joe Morton
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ plane crash into a nuclear plant
Road trip listen with the family and holy cannoli with mini mint chocolate chips this was a top notch listen. We were happy that we were in a truck and not an airplane.
There are quite a few smarty pants characters to keep track of, exactly who I’d want on the line trying to protect the town and its people. I might have shed a tear, or sixteen, for some of them. Yes, some things were implausible, but the action is non stop, like seriously, it never lets up.
If you like intensely gripping, suspensefully thrilling thrillers then you’ll want to put this one on your never ending TBR.
Narration notes:
What a performance! Love the added sound effects from a megaphone, intercom and cb radio, which really gives it that extra pizzazz I enjoy in my audiobooks, especially thrillers.
Husband’s in depth review:
Action packed. Some unrealistic scenarios. Good book. Will read this author again.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
October 28, 2024
excuse me??? this book is INCREDIBLE!!!! TJ Newman never fails to amaze me—the level of detail and research in her books coupled with the absolute adrenaline rush that makes it impossible to put down is 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
*i HIGHLY recommend the audiobook 🎧 version of this. it’s narrated by Joe Morton (Olivia Pope’s dad from Scandal!!) and his narration was absolutely perfect.
i was obsessed with this—truly listened to 5-10 minutes or another chapter whenever i could, finishing in one weekend (rare for me with audiobooks). i was nervous bc i saw some meh reviews because people said it was more technical than her other books and while it is, that didn’t bother me at ALL. i actually loved it—i learned so much while reading (my fave thing) and immediately started googling “how close am i to a nuclear power plant” after finishing 😂
think Chernobyl meets a airplane crash in a small town—it follows a plane crash near a nuclear power plant in a very small, rural MN town where extreme devastation is near if the people of the town don’t act fast.
my fave thing about her books are how they’re genre busters. at the surface this is a suspenseful thriller with lots of action and is actually quite anxiety inducing. but it’s so much more—it has some romance, some family elements, general litfic “what would i do if this happened?” vibes and more.
it is emotional, shocking, inspirational, sad, happy, thrilling, anxious, bingeworthy, addicting and just plain amazing.
i need this one adapted IMMEDIATELY!! 🎬 her description was incredible and i could visualize everything. try it out and lmk what you think!!
*for my male followers or people looking for a book you can give to your husband/read together—look no further!!
*i HIGHLY recommend the audiobook 🎧 version of this. it’s narrated by Joe Morton (Olivia Pope’s dad from Scandal!!) and his narration was absolutely perfect.
i was obsessed with this—truly listened to 5-10 minutes or another chapter whenever i could, finishing in one weekend (rare for me with audiobooks). i was nervous bc i saw some meh reviews because people said it was more technical than her other books and while it is, that didn’t bother me at ALL. i actually loved it—i learned so much while reading (my fave thing) and immediately started googling “how close am i to a nuclear power plant” after finishing 😂
think Chernobyl meets a airplane crash in a small town—it follows a plane crash near a nuclear power plant in a very small, rural MN town where extreme devastation is near if the people of the town don’t act fast.
my fave thing about her books are how they’re genre busters. at the surface this is a suspenseful thriller with lots of action and is actually quite anxiety inducing. but it’s so much more—it has some romance, some family elements, general litfic “what would i do if this happened?” vibes and more.
it is emotional, shocking, inspirational, sad, happy, thrilling, anxious, bingeworthy, addicting and just plain amazing.
i need this one adapted IMMEDIATELY!! 🎬 her description was incredible and i could visualize everything. try it out and lmk what you think!!
*for my male followers or people looking for a book you can give to your husband/read together—look no further!!
November 28, 2024
Holy heck. I knew before going in that Worst Case Scenario was likely to surpass many of my prior much loved reads. What I didn’t expect was that it was also going to make my jaw repeatedly drop, my fingers fly at speed, and my heart feel all of the feels. I’m not kidding. With an adrenaline-fueled plot and poignant emotion, Newman managed to include every ingredient that every reader could ever want into this psychological thriller. Fear not, however, as that was only the starting point for a book that easily established itself as the crème de la crème.
This story hit so close to home. Bringing to life every past shared trauma, it was a perfect rendition of a “Where were you when…” national catastrophe. With a character list full of heroes and ever rising palpable tension, this rollercoaster ride of suspense just didn’t let up. From the first page until the last, the sharp, compelling plot was as propulsive as you can get. And while I tried to slow myself down in order to savor the utter perfection, I just couldn’t avoid inhaling it one cliffhanger chapter after the other.
As I mentioned, the many characters met this truly epic plot step for step. Narrated via omniscient perspective, I connected with each and every persona as they entered the story. You could feel their terror as well as their stubborn backbones as they raced towards the disaster instead of away. They felt so alive. So real. It was as if I could reach out and touch them. When they hurt, I quite literally cried. When they won, I cheered. And if that isn’t the sign of a virtuoso behind the words, then I don’t know what is.
All in all, this was beyond good or even great. It was the highest of highs in a downright fantastic year of reads. Already one of my auto-buy authors, Ms. Newman has firmly cemented her name on my list of favorites. Thanks to her addictive, unputdownable, spellbinding words, I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Now I just have the interminable wait for her next pulse-pounding novel. So don’t waste time. Head to your closest bookseller now. I’m not kidding. After all, you need to read this one ASAP. Rating of 5+++ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
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.
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.
Thank you to T.J. Newman; Little, Brown; and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 13, 2024
Trigger warning: airplane crash, nuclear accident, fatal car accident, death of a parent
This story hit so close to home. Bringing to life every past shared trauma, it was a perfect rendition of a “Where were you when…” national catastrophe. With a character list full of heroes and ever rising palpable tension, this rollercoaster ride of suspense just didn’t let up. From the first page until the last, the sharp, compelling plot was as propulsive as you can get. And while I tried to slow myself down in order to savor the utter perfection, I just couldn’t avoid inhaling it one cliffhanger chapter after the other.
As I mentioned, the many characters met this truly epic plot step for step. Narrated via omniscient perspective, I connected with each and every persona as they entered the story. You could feel their terror as well as their stubborn backbones as they raced towards the disaster instead of away. They felt so alive. So real. It was as if I could reach out and touch them. When they hurt, I quite literally cried. When they won, I cheered. And if that isn’t the sign of a virtuoso behind the words, then I don’t know what is.
All in all, this was beyond good or even great. It was the highest of highs in a downright fantastic year of reads. Already one of my auto-buy authors, Ms. Newman has firmly cemented her name on my list of favorites. Thanks to her addictive, unputdownable, spellbinding words, I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Now I just have the interminable wait for her next pulse-pounding novel. So don’t waste time. Head to your closest bookseller now. I’m not kidding. After all, you need to read this one ASAP. Rating of 5+++ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
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.
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.
Thank you to T.J. Newman; Little, Brown; and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 13, 2024
Trigger warning: airplane crash, nuclear accident, fatal car accident, death of a parent
Read
September 21, 2024I am abandoning this one for now. It started off strong and then I just lost interest...I'm likely not the right reader or just not in the right headspace. Others have loved it. For now it's going to the side pile.
August 21, 2024
*3.5 stars
I really had high expectations for this book, since I thoroughly enjoyed T.J. Newman's last book, Drowning. What I got instead felt overly dramatic and enough eye rolling to leave me blind.
First of all, there are way too many characters to keep track of in this small Minnesota town where an airliner crashes into a nuclear power plant. By the end of the book, I couldn't remember whose kid belonged to which adult and which two or three characters were married or had been together at some point.
Also, the side plot with Connor was way too long and slowed down the story for me. I get showing the heroism and bravery of the firefighters just trying to do their job, but good Lord this was an entire subplot that could've been trimmed back.
The over the top problems, piled on top of each other, got tiresome pretty quick. It felt like reading a screenplay for a movie instead of a book. I was begging T.J. to give the characters a break by the end.
All in all, disappointed.
I really had high expectations for this book, since I thoroughly enjoyed T.J. Newman's last book, Drowning. What I got instead felt overly dramatic and enough eye rolling to leave me blind.
First of all, there are way too many characters to keep track of in this small Minnesota town where an airliner crashes into a nuclear power plant. By the end of the book, I couldn't remember whose kid belonged to which adult and which two or three characters were married or had been together at some point.
Also, the side plot with Connor was way too long and slowed down the story for me. I get showing the heroism and bravery of the firefighters just trying to do their job, but good Lord this was an entire subplot that could've been trimmed back.
The over the top problems, piled on top of each other, got tiresome pretty quick. It felt like reading a screenplay for a movie instead of a book. I was begging T.J. to give the characters a break by the end.
All in all, disappointed.
November 29, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up**
T.J. Newman has picked a lane and she's good at it. She delivers what I'm expecting every time.
This was fun, but also heart-warming and heart-wrenching simultaneously.
In this latest action-packed thrill ride, she explores a situation in which a commercial airliner crashes into a nuclear power plant.
Following the catastrophe, we follow regular people thrust into the most extraordinary of circumstances, as they race to try to save not just their friends and loved ones, but their communities, and really the whole world.
This audiobook was great, channeling the tension of the story straight into my veins. I was racing through it, like how could this possibly end well? I needed to know.
This book is perfect for anyone who watches movies like Armageddon and becomes completely invested. That person is me, and if it's also you, please check this one out. It is quite frankly a disaster-action movie brought to the page.
There's not much else to say to hype you up for this. It's best to just experience it for yourself. It's gripping, exciting and actually horrifying if you think about it too much.
That's honestly what I'm trying to avoid here...
So, yeah, in short, if you like terrifyingly-realistic Disaster Thrillers that read like a ticking time bomb about to go off on humanity, you have to pick this one up!!
Thank you to the publisher, Hachette Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm such a Newman fan and will definitely be back for more!!
T.J. Newman has picked a lane and she's good at it. She delivers what I'm expecting every time.
This was fun, but also heart-warming and heart-wrenching simultaneously.
In this latest action-packed thrill ride, she explores a situation in which a commercial airliner crashes into a nuclear power plant.
Following the catastrophe, we follow regular people thrust into the most extraordinary of circumstances, as they race to try to save not just their friends and loved ones, but their communities, and really the whole world.
This audiobook was great, channeling the tension of the story straight into my veins. I was racing through it, like how could this possibly end well? I needed to know.
This book is perfect for anyone who watches movies like Armageddon and becomes completely invested. That person is me, and if it's also you, please check this one out. It is quite frankly a disaster-action movie brought to the page.
There's not much else to say to hype you up for this. It's best to just experience it for yourself. It's gripping, exciting and actually horrifying if you think about it too much.
That's honestly what I'm trying to avoid here...
So, yeah, in short, if you like terrifyingly-realistic Disaster Thrillers that read like a ticking time bomb about to go off on humanity, you have to pick this one up!!
Thank you to the publisher, Hachette Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm such a Newman fan and will definitely be back for more!!
September 25, 2024
4.5 Stars
The novel "The Worst Case Scenario," by T.J. Newman, is exceptionally immersive, immediately capturing the reader's attention. The narrative's immediate dive into the story's core is sustained by a countdown format in each chapter, building anticipation toward "Zero Hour." Although not verified, the incorporation of various intriguing facts reflects the author's extensive research across diverse subjects. Drawing from her significant experience as a flight attendant, Newman's writing style avoids superfluous details, delivering an action-packed narrative that maintains taut tension, making it tangible and keeping the reader engaged and riveted.
The alternating focus between two rescue missions intensifies the suspense and adrenaline in the story, evoking emotional resonance, particularly with one of the missions. The book portrays a harrowing situation counterbalanced by depictions of unity and assistance for the greater good, offering a poignant and pertinent reading experience. The portrayal of diverse and poignant relationships, notably a father-son relationship, contributes to the narrative's depth and emotional impact.
The unexpected emotional depth in a thrilling narrative, combined with overarching themes of love and unity, renders T.J. Newman's work compelling and emotional, ranking it among my favourite reads for 2024. Moreover, I had a highly enjoyable experience with the audio format during my recent vacation. Joe Morton's narration was exceptional, imparting realism, suspense, and palpable engagement with the narrative, ensuring my sustained interest from start to finish. I found the author's note at the beginning of the audiobook to be quite engaging. The note provided valuable insight into the author's inspiration and journey to becoming an author.
I want to thank Little Brown and Company, Macmillan Audio, T.J. Newman, and NetGalley for providing the e-ALC and ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
______________________________________________________________________________________
(Pre-Review blurb)—During my recent vacation, I had a very enjoyable experience with the audio format. Joe Morton's narration was exceptional, bringing realism, suspense, and palpable engagement to the narrative. The content was highly captivating and realistic, holding my interest from beginning to end. I give it a rating of 4.5 stars. I will provide a detailed review shortly.
The novel "The Worst Case Scenario," by T.J. Newman, is exceptionally immersive, immediately capturing the reader's attention. The narrative's immediate dive into the story's core is sustained by a countdown format in each chapter, building anticipation toward "Zero Hour." Although not verified, the incorporation of various intriguing facts reflects the author's extensive research across diverse subjects. Drawing from her significant experience as a flight attendant, Newman's writing style avoids superfluous details, delivering an action-packed narrative that maintains taut tension, making it tangible and keeping the reader engaged and riveted.
The alternating focus between two rescue missions intensifies the suspense and adrenaline in the story, evoking emotional resonance, particularly with one of the missions. The book portrays a harrowing situation counterbalanced by depictions of unity and assistance for the greater good, offering a poignant and pertinent reading experience. The portrayal of diverse and poignant relationships, notably a father-son relationship, contributes to the narrative's depth and emotional impact.
The unexpected emotional depth in a thrilling narrative, combined with overarching themes of love and unity, renders T.J. Newman's work compelling and emotional, ranking it among my favourite reads for 2024. Moreover, I had a highly enjoyable experience with the audio format during my recent vacation. Joe Morton's narration was exceptional, imparting realism, suspense, and palpable engagement with the narrative, ensuring my sustained interest from start to finish. I found the author's note at the beginning of the audiobook to be quite engaging. The note provided valuable insight into the author's inspiration and journey to becoming an author.
I want to thank Little Brown and Company, Macmillan Audio, T.J. Newman, and NetGalley for providing the e-ALC and ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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(Pre-Review blurb)—During my recent vacation, I had a very enjoyable experience with the audio format. Joe Morton's narration was exceptional, bringing realism, suspense, and palpable engagement to the narrative. The content was highly captivating and realistic, holding my interest from beginning to end. I give it a rating of 4.5 stars. I will provide a detailed review shortly.
September 2, 2024
Clover Hill is a Nuclear Power Station in Waketa, Minnesota and lies on the banks of the Mississippi River. All is tickerty-boo until Coastal Airways Flight 235 crashes into it. Can disaster be averted? 😉
I should have known better than to lash out 10 spondoolies for this given how I feel about Drowning but FOMO and never learning my lesson sets in! I could kick myself. I have exactly the same response as with her last book. After a cracking all too believable start and in between moments where my interest is piqued (usually something heartbreaking as you can imagine) I’m bored silly with all the technical details. It comes to something when this avid reader would rather people watch in London (St Pancras Square, late train, fascinating conversation between a bombastic mother and late teen daughter. Ears twitching like a covert listening station) than finish this book in the sunshine. Some of her dialogue is woeful, ripe cheesy Brie and there are moments of utter cliche along with a huge cast of characters and several side stories. The cynical Brit that doesn’t lurk too far beneath my surface thinks yet again she’s going for movie rights and who can blame her? She’s onto a cash cow and in all honesty it’ll probably make a belter of a movie - way better than the book.
So, apologies for yet again for being the outlier and I’m genuinely glad if you enjoyed it. Just wish I had but one thing is for sure …. I’m done with this author! 🏝️🙋♀️
I should have known better than to lash out 10 spondoolies for this given how I feel about Drowning but FOMO and never learning my lesson sets in! I could kick myself. I have exactly the same response as with her last book. After a cracking all too believable start and in between moments where my interest is piqued (usually something heartbreaking as you can imagine) I’m bored silly with all the technical details. It comes to something when this avid reader would rather people watch in London (St Pancras Square, late train, fascinating conversation between a bombastic mother and late teen daughter. Ears twitching like a covert listening station) than finish this book in the sunshine. Some of her dialogue is woeful, ripe cheesy Brie and there are moments of utter cliche along with a huge cast of characters and several side stories. The cynical Brit that doesn’t lurk too far beneath my surface thinks yet again she’s going for movie rights and who can blame her? She’s onto a cash cow and in all honesty it’ll probably make a belter of a movie - way better than the book.
So, apologies for yet again for being the outlier and I’m genuinely glad if you enjoyed it. Just wish I had but one thing is for sure …. I’m done with this author! 🏝️🙋♀️
August 25, 2024
I have to quit reading Newman’s books or I will never get on a plane again. The first 30 pages of this book is brutal. I have had experience with the result of plane crashes before but to read her description sends chills down my spine.
This story is one big ball of emotions. There is sadness, despair, anger, exhilaration … just to name a few. Newman does a great job weaving them in and out of the fabric of this writing. Sacrifice for the greater good is a trite phrase at times but in this reference it is overwhelming. No one is exempt from the suffering. We celebrate the small victories and weep over the loss that occurred in securing them. While I was reading a very emotional part I thought of the Biblical quote, ”Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
I cannot imagine having an invisible death, radioactivity, surrounding me and in the heat of the moment not being sure whether I had significant exposure or not, having to wait months to years before finding out if my actions have written checks my body cannot cash.
This is another successful novel by T J Newman. After finishing this book I felt as if my insides had been put through a washing machine. I definitely recommend this rollercoaster ride to my GR friends. You might want to take some tissues on this ride.
This story is one big ball of emotions. There is sadness, despair, anger, exhilaration … just to name a few. Newman does a great job weaving them in and out of the fabric of this writing. Sacrifice for the greater good is a trite phrase at times but in this reference it is overwhelming. No one is exempt from the suffering. We celebrate the small victories and weep over the loss that occurred in securing them. While I was reading a very emotional part I thought of the Biblical quote, ”Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
I cannot imagine having an invisible death, radioactivity, surrounding me and in the heat of the moment not being sure whether I had significant exposure or not, having to wait months to years before finding out if my actions have written checks my body cannot cash.
This is another successful novel by T J Newman. After finishing this book I felt as if my insides had been put through a washing machine. I definitely recommend this rollercoaster ride to my GR friends. You might want to take some tissues on this ride.
September 9, 2024
'If life's a joke and death's the punch line, in a good set up, you never see it coming'.
Page One and you're plunging; the captain is dead and the plane is out of control. That is the beginning. Down on the ground, in Waketa, everyone is oblivious. The townspeople are simply excited for the upcoming Easter Break. That is, until the ground starts shaking and the power goes out everywhere. Odd. Until the alarm starts ringing at the local nuclear power plant. Chapter by chapter, hour by hour, minutes tick by with each sentence, as we nudge ever closer to the biggest disaster mankind has ever known.
As we follow different POVs throughout the community, everyone is trying to solve problems faster than the radiation spreading. You might be tempted to skim through some pages as your anxiety levels pulsate- when will it be ok?! Sometimes it even seems like it'll be ok but then you turn the page!
I’m so glad I took the plunge with another TJ Newman book. I found this book just as heart-pounding as Drowning. Despite all of the drama though, this story is fundamentally about ordinary people doing extraordinary things in exceptional circumstances. It is a page-turner for sure.
Page One and you're plunging; the captain is dead and the plane is out of control. That is the beginning. Down on the ground, in Waketa, everyone is oblivious. The townspeople are simply excited for the upcoming Easter Break. That is, until the ground starts shaking and the power goes out everywhere. Odd. Until the alarm starts ringing at the local nuclear power plant. Chapter by chapter, hour by hour, minutes tick by with each sentence, as we nudge ever closer to the biggest disaster mankind has ever known.
As we follow different POVs throughout the community, everyone is trying to solve problems faster than the radiation spreading. You might be tempted to skim through some pages as your anxiety levels pulsate- when will it be ok?! Sometimes it even seems like it'll be ok but then you turn the page!
I’m so glad I took the plunge with another TJ Newman book. I found this book just as heart-pounding as Drowning. Despite all of the drama though, this story is fundamentally about ordinary people doing extraordinary things in exceptional circumstances. It is a page-turner for sure.
October 4, 2024
4.5 stars
Reading/listening to this at the same time that Hurricane Helene devastated large swaths of the United States definitely struck a nerve for me. Especially in the beginning of the book where it highlights all the individual impacts that happened to every day people who were just going about their lives when the plane broke apart. This really hit close to home considering all the people who were not living in Florida, and thus not expecting Helene to cause such extreme damage to their homes and towns hundreds of miles away from it's initial landfall. In reality, just like in the book, the impacted communities came together to rescue and salvage what they could of a terrible unforeseen situation.
Also, this book made me cry and I am not a person who usually does that. Absolutely recommended. Especially the audiobook as the narration even includes realistic walkie-talkie staticky voices etc.
Reading/listening to this at the same time that Hurricane Helene devastated large swaths of the United States definitely struck a nerve for me. Especially in the beginning of the book where it highlights all the individual impacts that happened to every day people who were just going about their lives when the plane broke apart. This really hit close to home considering all the people who were not living in Florida, and thus not expecting Helene to cause such extreme damage to their homes and towns hundreds of miles away from it's initial landfall. In reality, just like in the book, the impacted communities came together to rescue and salvage what they could of a terrible unforeseen situation.
Also, this book made me cry and I am not a person who usually does that. Absolutely recommended. Especially the audiobook as the narration even includes realistic walkie-talkie staticky voices etc.
October 5, 2024
3 stars
Action packed from start to finish!
A plane crashes into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota causing a national crisis with potential worldwide repercussions.
This novel jumps right into the crisis from the Prologue. The action begins in the first sentence of the first page and doesn’t let up until the very end. While I do appreciate an attention grabbing start, this story didn’t allow me to build a connection with characters before the crisis happened which made me feel somewhat distanced from the plot. The tension was palpable, but I didn’t truly feel for the characters or situation.
This story follows various perspectives of first responders and emergency crew tending to the catastrophe. The author did an excellent job exploring the internal struggle of first responders when attending an unprecedented situation and how they have to compartmentalize to be able to do their job successfully. I enjoyed learning about nuclear power plants and the dangers of working at one or living near one. It is clear the author did an incredible amount of research. I found this very eye opening and informative. It was my biggest take away from this book.
The character development was lacking for me overall. I had little investment in or connection to any of the characters which negatively affected my enjoyment. I struggled with the narrative switches and found myself confused several times. The characters weren’t as fleshed out as I would have liked. I loved this authors previous two novels and felt an intense connection to the characters in those books from the very start, so this was a large disappointment for me.
My lack of connection to the story was also because of the unrealistic plot points that were scattered throughout. I did not have believability issues with her previous books, but it was a rather large issue for me with this one. I found many scenes, dialogue and decisions to be cliche, cheesy and bordering on silly, which took away from the seriousness of the intense storyline. There were several lengthy and detailed conversations and/or flashbacks at high intensity times that didn’t ring true for me. No one would be this calm or conversational under these extreme circumstances. With these unfitting sentimental conversations and flashbacks, I didn’t feel the true desperation of the situation in these scenes. There was also a romance element that was unnecessary.
Overall, I enjoyed this for being an eye-opening, informative, action filled look into the dangers of a nuclear power plant, but didn’t connect as strongly as I have with her other books. I highly recommend her previous two novels, Drowning and Falling.
Audio rating: 3.5 stars. The narrator was ok, but didn’t enhance anything for me. I am curious if I would have enjoyed this more had I read a physical copy.
Action packed from start to finish!
A plane crashes into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota causing a national crisis with potential worldwide repercussions.
This novel jumps right into the crisis from the Prologue. The action begins in the first sentence of the first page and doesn’t let up until the very end. While I do appreciate an attention grabbing start, this story didn’t allow me to build a connection with characters before the crisis happened which made me feel somewhat distanced from the plot. The tension was palpable, but I didn’t truly feel for the characters or situation.
This story follows various perspectives of first responders and emergency crew tending to the catastrophe. The author did an excellent job exploring the internal struggle of first responders when attending an unprecedented situation and how they have to compartmentalize to be able to do their job successfully. I enjoyed learning about nuclear power plants and the dangers of working at one or living near one. It is clear the author did an incredible amount of research. I found this very eye opening and informative. It was my biggest take away from this book.
The character development was lacking for me overall. I had little investment in or connection to any of the characters which negatively affected my enjoyment. I struggled with the narrative switches and found myself confused several times. The characters weren’t as fleshed out as I would have liked. I loved this authors previous two novels and felt an intense connection to the characters in those books from the very start, so this was a large disappointment for me.
My lack of connection to the story was also because of the unrealistic plot points that were scattered throughout. I did not have believability issues with her previous books, but it was a rather large issue for me with this one. I found many scenes, dialogue and decisions to be cliche, cheesy and bordering on silly, which took away from the seriousness of the intense storyline. There were several lengthy and detailed conversations and/or flashbacks at high intensity times that didn’t ring true for me. No one would be this calm or conversational under these extreme circumstances. With these unfitting sentimental conversations and flashbacks, I didn’t feel the true desperation of the situation in these scenes. There was also a romance element that was unnecessary.
Overall, I enjoyed this for being an eye-opening, informative, action filled look into the dangers of a nuclear power plant, but didn’t connect as strongly as I have with her other books. I highly recommend her previous two novels, Drowning and Falling.
Audio rating: 3.5 stars. The narrator was ok, but didn’t enhance anything for me. I am curious if I would have enjoyed this more had I read a physical copy.
August 26, 2024
Wow!! Okay the hype is real. 😍 Thank you SO much to @novelsuspects @littlebrown @hachettebooks for my gorgeous gifted copy!! #novelsuspectsinsiders ❤️
So they sent me this fantastic survival kit in addition to the book. 🥰What they didn’t send me.. was something to patch up my heart. 🥺This was my first @tj_author book… and it was NOT what I expected at all. 🤷♀️ I expected a high octane thriller that kept me at te edge of my seat.. heart pounding.. and it was ALL of that! 👏👏What I didn’t expect was for my heart to be smashed into a million pieces. 🥺 I didn’t expect to grow to love these characters SO much that I became an emotional wreck… hanging on every decision. 😳
This book delivered more than I had ever hoped for. It not only entertained me… thrilled me… It gutted me. ❤️ I LOVE when a author has the power to do that to me.
Thank you for one hell of a buddy read @blue.mood.cafe @openbookpostblog !! ❤️❤️ There was ALOT to talk about!
So they sent me this fantastic survival kit in addition to the book. 🥰What they didn’t send me.. was something to patch up my heart. 🥺This was my first @tj_author book… and it was NOT what I expected at all. 🤷♀️ I expected a high octane thriller that kept me at te edge of my seat.. heart pounding.. and it was ALL of that! 👏👏What I didn’t expect was for my heart to be smashed into a million pieces. 🥺 I didn’t expect to grow to love these characters SO much that I became an emotional wreck… hanging on every decision. 😳
This book delivered more than I had ever hoped for. It not only entertained me… thrilled me… It gutted me. ❤️ I LOVE when a author has the power to do that to me.
Thank you for one hell of a buddy read @blue.mood.cafe @openbookpostblog !! ❤️❤️ There was ALOT to talk about!
December 20, 2024
T.J. Newman is a phenomenal author! I devoured Drowning as well as Falling while on long plane flights. Today I read Worst Case Scenario while on a six-hour flight.
Could. Not. Put. It. Down.
It grabbed me from the first page until the very end.
The Author’s Note is at the beginning of the book. Newman has interviewed many pilots and asked them their biggest fears. There were many similar responses. One pilot said, “My biggest fear is a commercial jet slamming into a nuclear power plant.”
That response created the basis of Worst Case Scenario.
Could. Not. Put. It. Down.
It grabbed me from the first page until the very end.
The Author’s Note is at the beginning of the book. Newman has interviewed many pilots and asked them their biggest fears. There were many similar responses. One pilot said, “My biggest fear is a commercial jet slamming into a nuclear power plant.”
That response created the basis of Worst Case Scenario.
September 4, 2024
Ugh, don’t know why i bother anymore.
I’ve read Falling after hearing rave reviews. The characters spoke so unrealistically I could barely stand it.
I decided to read Drowning to give it a second chance and skimmed through the end once the characters started talking. NO ONE TALKS LIKE THIS.
I received an ARC from Netgalley and said let’s just do it.
Once again, the most Michael Bay of Lifetime movies, this time another plane, but instead one crashes into a nuclear power plant near the Mississippi River.
Chaos ensues, Liam Neeson, Nicholas Cage, and an actress who can’t really act all star in it. Insert really cheesy music to tie it altogether, along with people saluting the American flag with planes over ahead creating chemtrails to really enforce it.
"But the van now dangled out over the water in the middle of the bridge, its rear wheels still spinning, U2’s “Beautiful Day” blaring out of the van’s speakers."
But of course U2 would be playing, it's exactly what a summer blockbuster on Lifetime would script.
Again, no one talks like this:
“We run the day like we run every day. Making it work because there is no other choice.”
Sorry T.J. Newman, while your books start off well, I can't stomach it once the people starting talking.
However, not gonna lie, I will watch the actual movies set to come out, cause you know, action and cheese on a Friday night.
I’ve read Falling after hearing rave reviews. The characters spoke so unrealistically I could barely stand it.
I decided to read Drowning to give it a second chance and skimmed through the end once the characters started talking. NO ONE TALKS LIKE THIS.
I received an ARC from Netgalley and said let’s just do it.
Once again, the most Michael Bay of Lifetime movies, this time another plane, but instead one crashes into a nuclear power plant near the Mississippi River.
Chaos ensues, Liam Neeson, Nicholas Cage, and an actress who can’t really act all star in it. Insert really cheesy music to tie it altogether, along with people saluting the American flag with planes over ahead creating chemtrails to really enforce it.
"But the van now dangled out over the water in the middle of the bridge, its rear wheels still spinning, U2’s “Beautiful Day” blaring out of the van’s speakers."
But of course U2 would be playing, it's exactly what a summer blockbuster on Lifetime would script.
Again, no one talks like this:
“We run the day like we run every day. Making it work because there is no other choice.”
Sorry T.J. Newman, while your books start off well, I can't stomach it once the people starting talking.
However, not gonna lie, I will watch the actual movies set to come out, cause you know, action and cheese on a Friday night.
August 14, 2024
Update 8/13/24: Reposting my review to celebrate that today is publication day!
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown for sending me an ARC of Worst Case Scenario in exchange for an honest review.
On the opening page of this novel, a commercial airline pilot suffers a fatal heart attack while his co-pilot is in a restroom. By the time the co-pilot can get back into the cockpit, it’s too late for those on board. But this plane doesn’t crash in a field or into the ocean; it crashes into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota. And over the next few hours, the people on the ground have to deal with tragedies and catastrophes—both large scale and personal—as they try stop an unimaginable, planet-altering nuclear meltdown.
Falling was one of the surprise hits of 2021, a great-but-cheesy action movie in book form. Ms. Newman’s sophomore effort, Drowning was another great-but-cheesy action movie in book form. I suppose that Ms. Newman could have sat on her laurels and kept churning out airplane-based disaster thrillers. But I’m happy to report that Worst Case Scenario represents an evolution in her work. First, the airplane is gone before the end of the first chapter; the disasters here are all earthbound. Second, the disasters here are statistically unlikely but feel much more realistic. And maybe most importantly, this book was a more emotional experience. There’s a larger emphasis on characterization and, by the end, a few tears will fall when bad things happen to good people.
But make no mistake: Worst Case Scenario is another really fun, fast-paced, kinetic thriller, like reading an action movie. The characters are witty, and snarky, and highly entertaining. Once again, Ms. Newman has captured the spirit of movies like Armageddon, Independence Day, White House Down, and with its heavy emphasis on emergency management, the Tommy Lee Jones classic Volcano. Recommended.
Dwight held up a hand. “Am I the only one hesitating here? We’re really putting the entire fate of this planet into the hands of an alcoholic out-of-work trucker?”
Before anyone could speak, the low-water-level alarm rang again. The next threshold of caution had been reached. Ethan shut it off and said, “That’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown for sending me an ARC of Worst Case Scenario in exchange for an honest review.
On the opening page of this novel, a commercial airline pilot suffers a fatal heart attack while his co-pilot is in a restroom. By the time the co-pilot can get back into the cockpit, it’s too late for those on board. But this plane doesn’t crash in a field or into the ocean; it crashes into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota. And over the next few hours, the people on the ground have to deal with tragedies and catastrophes—both large scale and personal—as they try stop an unimaginable, planet-altering nuclear meltdown.
Falling was one of the surprise hits of 2021, a great-but-cheesy action movie in book form. Ms. Newman’s sophomore effort, Drowning was another great-but-cheesy action movie in book form. I suppose that Ms. Newman could have sat on her laurels and kept churning out airplane-based disaster thrillers. But I’m happy to report that Worst Case Scenario represents an evolution in her work. First, the airplane is gone before the end of the first chapter; the disasters here are all earthbound. Second, the disasters here are statistically unlikely but feel much more realistic. And maybe most importantly, this book was a more emotional experience. There’s a larger emphasis on characterization and, by the end, a few tears will fall when bad things happen to good people.
But make no mistake: Worst Case Scenario is another really fun, fast-paced, kinetic thriller, like reading an action movie. The characters are witty, and snarky, and highly entertaining. Once again, Ms. Newman has captured the spirit of movies like Armageddon, Independence Day, White House Down, and with its heavy emphasis on emergency management, the Tommy Lee Jones classic Volcano. Recommended.
August 3, 2024
Wow. Wow. Wow.
To be honest, this might be the best book I have read all year.
It was absolutely frightening, heartwarming, and shocking all in one. A plane crashes into a nuclear power plant and the chaos starts there.
The sense of community in this book was amazing. The fear I felt reading this was insane. To be honest, this is one of those books that you will still be thinking about even years later. It makes that much of an impact.
I don’t even want to go into too many details or ruin any parts of this book. Just read it. Especially if you are fascinated by things like Chernobyl. And someone PLEASE make this into a mini netflix series or a movie. This is absolutely PERFECT for that.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest, this might be the best book I have read all year.
It was absolutely frightening, heartwarming, and shocking all in one. A plane crashes into a nuclear power plant and the chaos starts there.
The sense of community in this book was amazing. The fear I felt reading this was insane. To be honest, this is one of those books that you will still be thinking about even years later. It makes that much of an impact.
I don’t even want to go into too many details or ruin any parts of this book. Just read it. Especially if you are fascinated by things like Chernobyl. And someone PLEASE make this into a mini netflix series or a movie. This is absolutely PERFECT for that.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2024
the setup…
The pilot of commercial airliner Delta Flight 224 suddenly has a widow-maker heart attack at 35,000 feet while his first officer is out of the cockpit. The plane plunges to the ground, crashing into a nuclear power plant in Waketa, Minnesota. That small town becomes the epicenter for the most catastrophic event the world has ever faced…categorized as a Level 8 on the International Nuclear Event Scale, which only has 7 levels.
the heart of the story…
The people in Waketa were used to drills living in a town with a nuclear plant. But when they felt the impact of that plane throughout the town, nothing went according to plan as communications were cutoff or disabled. There’s a heartbeat in small communities and this one beat strong as in the middle of all the confusion, the residents rose to the occasion. Ordinary citizens brought their skills, resources and common sense to the table as they sought to do the right things and take care of each other while the brightest and smartest minds worked to resolve the catastrophe at the nuclear plant. It was riveting and scary stuff that kept me breathless.
the narration…
Joe Morton was just a brilliant choice to tell this story. That voice brought all the right emotions, tension and poignancy to create vivid images of the scenes and characters. I can still hear him.
the bottom line…
There’s a lot of science here that went over my head but it just wasn’t important as the President (the kind you dream of having in these situations) demanded plain speak. I was drawn into the separate dramas going on outside of the nuclear disaster as you can imagine the wide range of devastation when a jet falls from the sky. But it was the spirit of the community that captured my heart and imagination with heroes rising from unusual places, risking their lives to save not only their town but potentially the world. Newman strikes gold yet again. I’ll always read whatever she wants to write.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
The pilot of commercial airliner Delta Flight 224 suddenly has a widow-maker heart attack at 35,000 feet while his first officer is out of the cockpit. The plane plunges to the ground, crashing into a nuclear power plant in Waketa, Minnesota. That small town becomes the epicenter for the most catastrophic event the world has ever faced…categorized as a Level 8 on the International Nuclear Event Scale, which only has 7 levels.
the heart of the story…
The people in Waketa were used to drills living in a town with a nuclear plant. But when they felt the impact of that plane throughout the town, nothing went according to plan as communications were cutoff or disabled. There’s a heartbeat in small communities and this one beat strong as in the middle of all the confusion, the residents rose to the occasion. Ordinary citizens brought their skills, resources and common sense to the table as they sought to do the right things and take care of each other while the brightest and smartest minds worked to resolve the catastrophe at the nuclear plant. It was riveting and scary stuff that kept me breathless.
the narration…
Joe Morton was just a brilliant choice to tell this story. That voice brought all the right emotions, tension and poignancy to create vivid images of the scenes and characters. I can still hear him.
the bottom line…
There’s a lot of science here that went over my head but it just wasn’t important as the President (the kind you dream of having in these situations) demanded plain speak. I was drawn into the separate dramas going on outside of the nuclear disaster as you can imagine the wide range of devastation when a jet falls from the sky. But it was the spirit of the community that captured my heart and imagination with heroes rising from unusual places, risking their lives to save not only their town but potentially the world. Newman strikes gold yet again. I’ll always read whatever she wants to write.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
September 23, 2025
“It is written in the Talmud, ‘Whoever saves a single life is considered by scripture to have saved the whole world.”
My husband and I with our 2 corgi dogs, Oliver and Oscar, live in the beautiful coastal town of Morro Bay, California. We live about 24 miles away from Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP), which is a nuclear power plant near Avila Beach. They tell us that it is safe, clean, reliable and a vital energy resource. We also know that it is the last nuclear power plant still open in the state of California.
DCPP was originally commissioned and opened on May 7, 1985, and scheduled to have one reactor shut down this year (2024) and the second in 2025. But our Governor, along with others felt that “as we experience record heat wave and climate change-driven extreme events it is causing an unprecedented stress on our power grid – thus it is important to keep this power plant to support energy reliability as we accelerate progress towards achieving our clean energy and climate goals.”
Even with protests for its closing, no one could deny the extreme weather conditions our state has endured in the last few years. Thus, the decision was made that this older plant, although destined to close, is now going to be kept running past 2030.
Of course, what does it mean when we read fiction books like this one? Where an inevitable incident of a commercial airlines pilot has a heart attack and dies. While in flight. And, with the co-pilot unavailable at the same time. With no one else capable to take the controls of the plane. Thus, causing it to crash into the small town of Waketa, Minnesota that just happens to house a nuclear power plant near the Mississippi River. As readers, can we come up for air after we read these moments?
As readers, do we also consider the realities of “what if” this really happened? Of course! How could I not wonder what would happen if our very own, and very real DCPP were compromised?
DCPP’s expectations are to provide the needed electricity for the state, while we transition to renewable energy and wean ourselves off of fossil fuels. And, how will that be possible under a Trump administration and current GOP that has no understanding or regard for the science of climate change? Especially if they were to encourage letting the old plant live beyond its expiration date, again.
Mostly, as I read this book, I couldn’t help but contemplate…what would our “worst case scenario” look like?
“The fire would create an uncontrollable spread of invisible, toxic, cancer-causing radioactive particulates that would be dispersed in the air and carried by the wind. It would get in the soil. The water. Our food. Insects. Livestock. It would be in everything we touched, ate, drank, and breathed for…for forever.”
Living just 24 miles away, there really is no easy escape route from such a catastrophic event, without major traffic delays. And, even if there were an easy escape, would we even have the time to safely escape?
So, the question that kept circulating as I read this book, was…is a nuclear power plant really as safe as they tell us?
“They had already done whatever was needed to ensure that all nuclear power plants were safe from attack. As I said this, the pilot just listened. When I finished, he smiled and replied: ‘And that’s exactly what they want you to believe.’”
So, as easily as this book was to read, with breath-taking moments, and pages turning quickly, I couldn’t help but find myself asking repeatedly, what if this was the central coast of California, instead of the "imaginary" small town of Waketa, Minnesota?
I was mesmerized as the story unfolded. The author showed how the community of Waketa rallied and came together, while heroes were made.
“When you work in nuclear power, you never fully forget what it is you do. How dangerous it is, how horrific the potential could be. You always, always respect the potential. But you learn to let go of the fear.”
This book is SO readable. Why? Because, it is relatable. And, the characters felt so real, they are believable. They could be any one in my community who works at DCPP. Or be in politics. Or driving along minding their own life when this “incident” occurs. Or working as first responders ready to take action where needed.
“They stood firm in their convictions… One of quiet conviction that says, this is who we are, this is what we stand for, and that matters.”
I felt myself easily transported to the drama and terror experienced in the characters attempts to address what was happening around them. So much so, that after finishing the book before falling asleep last night, I was aware of how much the book truly affected me. So much so, that I couldn’t help but shake uncontrollably for a moment after I woke myself up from a nightmare this morning. Where in my memory of the dream, I saw my body showing signs of radiation and shutting down. As I groggily and gratefully came back to present, I decided to write this kind of a review.
Yes, this book affected me. And, I believe it will affect you, too. Even if you don’t live close to a nuclear power plant. Yes, it is fiction. But it is spell-binding fiction. As readers, I believe we resonate to these-type-of-stories, for that very reason.
Trigger warnings: vivid death scenes.
My husband and I with our 2 corgi dogs, Oliver and Oscar, live in the beautiful coastal town of Morro Bay, California. We live about 24 miles away from Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP), which is a nuclear power plant near Avila Beach. They tell us that it is safe, clean, reliable and a vital energy resource. We also know that it is the last nuclear power plant still open in the state of California.
DCPP was originally commissioned and opened on May 7, 1985, and scheduled to have one reactor shut down this year (2024) and the second in 2025. But our Governor, along with others felt that “as we experience record heat wave and climate change-driven extreme events it is causing an unprecedented stress on our power grid – thus it is important to keep this power plant to support energy reliability as we accelerate progress towards achieving our clean energy and climate goals.”
Even with protests for its closing, no one could deny the extreme weather conditions our state has endured in the last few years. Thus, the decision was made that this older plant, although destined to close, is now going to be kept running past 2030.
Of course, what does it mean when we read fiction books like this one? Where an inevitable incident of a commercial airlines pilot has a heart attack and dies. While in flight. And, with the co-pilot unavailable at the same time. With no one else capable to take the controls of the plane. Thus, causing it to crash into the small town of Waketa, Minnesota that just happens to house a nuclear power plant near the Mississippi River. As readers, can we come up for air after we read these moments?
As readers, do we also consider the realities of “what if” this really happened? Of course! How could I not wonder what would happen if our very own, and very real DCPP were compromised?
DCPP’s expectations are to provide the needed electricity for the state, while we transition to renewable energy and wean ourselves off of fossil fuels. And, how will that be possible under a Trump administration and current GOP that has no understanding or regard for the science of climate change? Especially if they were to encourage letting the old plant live beyond its expiration date, again.
Mostly, as I read this book, I couldn’t help but contemplate…what would our “worst case scenario” look like?
“The fire would create an uncontrollable spread of invisible, toxic, cancer-causing radioactive particulates that would be dispersed in the air and carried by the wind. It would get in the soil. The water. Our food. Insects. Livestock. It would be in everything we touched, ate, drank, and breathed for…for forever.”
Living just 24 miles away, there really is no easy escape route from such a catastrophic event, without major traffic delays. And, even if there were an easy escape, would we even have the time to safely escape?
So, the question that kept circulating as I read this book, was…is a nuclear power plant really as safe as they tell us?
“They had already done whatever was needed to ensure that all nuclear power plants were safe from attack. As I said this, the pilot just listened. When I finished, he smiled and replied: ‘And that’s exactly what they want you to believe.’”
So, as easily as this book was to read, with breath-taking moments, and pages turning quickly, I couldn’t help but find myself asking repeatedly, what if this was the central coast of California, instead of the "imaginary" small town of Waketa, Minnesota?
I was mesmerized as the story unfolded. The author showed how the community of Waketa rallied and came together, while heroes were made.
“When you work in nuclear power, you never fully forget what it is you do. How dangerous it is, how horrific the potential could be. You always, always respect the potential. But you learn to let go of the fear.”
This book is SO readable. Why? Because, it is relatable. And, the characters felt so real, they are believable. They could be any one in my community who works at DCPP. Or be in politics. Or driving along minding their own life when this “incident” occurs. Or working as first responders ready to take action where needed.
“They stood firm in their convictions… One of quiet conviction that says, this is who we are, this is what we stand for, and that matters.”
I felt myself easily transported to the drama and terror experienced in the characters attempts to address what was happening around them. So much so, that after finishing the book before falling asleep last night, I was aware of how much the book truly affected me. So much so, that I couldn’t help but shake uncontrollably for a moment after I woke myself up from a nightmare this morning. Where in my memory of the dream, I saw my body showing signs of radiation and shutting down. As I groggily and gratefully came back to present, I decided to write this kind of a review.
Yes, this book affected me. And, I believe it will affect you, too. Even if you don’t live close to a nuclear power plant. Yes, it is fiction. But it is spell-binding fiction. As readers, I believe we resonate to these-type-of-stories, for that very reason.
Trigger warnings: vivid death scenes.
December 2, 2024
The beginning was a total banger. It slowed down a bit mid way through and really focused on the characters involved...which was still good but not as exciting. Great book all in all. I'll read more from this author.
September 13, 2024
TJ Newman will make you never want to fly again. Or just see a plane in general! But honestly, no one writes a plane disaster quite like Newman. This one focuses on the all too real scenario of what the world would do if someone crashed a plane into a nuclear facility. Because I never really put to much thought into to this type of question, I was just a passenger in a wild ride of a book. As thrilling as the first two novels, Worst case scenario will have you on the edge of your seat, biting you nails, cursing because you mouth is dry due to it hanging open for chapters at a time. It’s a great start to my Fall ready! Thrill me. Chill me and send me to bed 😆
June 5, 2024
I will read every single book this author publishes. Counting down the days 😘
August 3, 2024
When a pilot suffers a widow maker at 35,000 feet in the air, a commercial plane filled with passengers crashes into a nuclear power plant in small town Wiketa, Massachusetts. As local heroes work to minimize the damage and stop an even bigger catastrophe from occurring, painful decisions are made as they put themselves in the line of fire to save their town, the nation and the world.
I will drop everything to read a T.J. Newman book, and this was no exception. From the moment she announced its release, it made its way to the top of my TBR as my most anticipated read. And I am so happy to say, it was all I had hoped it would be. From the pulse pounding plot line, to the edge of your seats moments, I COULD. NOT. PUT. THIS. BOOK. DOWN.
One thing that sets her books apart from others in this genre, is the depth of her characters. While the plot line is at the forefront, you would not have the emotion she elicits without establishing these pivotal characters in a multi-dimensional way allowing the reader to form such intense connections.
🎧 Joe Morton is my new favorite audiobook narrator. He brought his prowess as an actor and the skill needed to navigate the nuance between action and emotion in each situation. Having grown up in the town where he also lived, I may be just a tad bit biased; however, I think most will find his narration to be dynamic. I look forward to more audio with him at the helm.
Read if you like:
• suspense
• action-packed stories
• ensemble casts
• books that read like a movie
• fast paced writing
• bingy reads
Thank you Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio for the gifted copies.
I will drop everything to read a T.J. Newman book, and this was no exception. From the moment she announced its release, it made its way to the top of my TBR as my most anticipated read. And I am so happy to say, it was all I had hoped it would be. From the pulse pounding plot line, to the edge of your seats moments, I COULD. NOT. PUT. THIS. BOOK. DOWN.
One thing that sets her books apart from others in this genre, is the depth of her characters. While the plot line is at the forefront, you would not have the emotion she elicits without establishing these pivotal characters in a multi-dimensional way allowing the reader to form such intense connections.
🎧 Joe Morton is my new favorite audiobook narrator. He brought his prowess as an actor and the skill needed to navigate the nuance between action and emotion in each situation. Having grown up in the town where he also lived, I may be just a tad bit biased; however, I think most will find his narration to be dynamic. I look forward to more audio with him at the helm.
Read if you like:
• suspense
• action-packed stories
• ensemble casts
• books that read like a movie
• fast paced writing
• bingy reads
Thank you Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio for the gifted copies.
January 5, 2026
there was a lot of this happened, then that happened. It was hard to connect with the characters since there was so much action, they felt more like props.
August 10, 2024
“Two hundred and ninety-five lives were in the hands of a pilot who was having a widow-maker heart attack at 35,000 feet.”
T.J. Newman knows how to get her readers' attention … and KEEP it. This one’s a little different from her other two airline thrillers as (1) most of the action is on the ground instead of in the air as in her previous books and (2) readers see how an airline disaster affects those on the ground rather than the passengers in the air.
Coastal Airways Boeing 757 Flight 235 from Minneapolis to Seattle is on a collision course with disaster. Not only does the pilot succumb to his heart attack, nobody can regain control of the aircraft as it heads towards Earth. Newman's masterful narrative piqued my morbid curiosity, keeping my eyes open and my nervous tension well-balanced as she wrote about the large commercial airliner filled with fuel, travelling hundreds of miles an hour heading straight for a nuclear power plant.
Newman’s focus is on the ‘whole’ rather than the ‘individual’. She showed us how in a disaster of this scale, the collective worked together for the greater good. My eyes teared as her story tugged on my heartstrings and my nails were ‘bitten to the quick’ as she wrote the countdown to zero hour. I learned about islanding/island mode, NEST, the International Nuclear Event Scale, and a little about decommissioning nuclear facilities, but I think what will stay with me the most is the villain in this book - invisible as it may have been, it acted quickly and took lives. So often we fear what we see, a monster or a renegade with a gun, but Newman investigates the fear of the invisible. My imagination was working overtime with this fantastic story that will translate very well to the silver screen.
I was gifted this copy by Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
T.J. Newman knows how to get her readers' attention … and KEEP it. This one’s a little different from her other two airline thrillers as (1) most of the action is on the ground instead of in the air as in her previous books and (2) readers see how an airline disaster affects those on the ground rather than the passengers in the air.
Coastal Airways Boeing 757 Flight 235 from Minneapolis to Seattle is on a collision course with disaster. Not only does the pilot succumb to his heart attack, nobody can regain control of the aircraft as it heads towards Earth. Newman's masterful narrative piqued my morbid curiosity, keeping my eyes open and my nervous tension well-balanced as she wrote about the large commercial airliner filled with fuel, travelling hundreds of miles an hour heading straight for a nuclear power plant.
Newman’s focus is on the ‘whole’ rather than the ‘individual’. She showed us how in a disaster of this scale, the collective worked together for the greater good. My eyes teared as her story tugged on my heartstrings and my nails were ‘bitten to the quick’ as she wrote the countdown to zero hour. I learned about islanding/island mode, NEST, the International Nuclear Event Scale, and a little about decommissioning nuclear facilities, but I think what will stay with me the most is the villain in this book - invisible as it may have been, it acted quickly and took lives. So often we fear what we see, a monster or a renegade with a gun, but Newman investigates the fear of the invisible. My imagination was working overtime with this fantastic story that will translate very well to the silver screen.
I was gifted this copy by Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
May 15, 2025
From Skyfall to Meltdown
T.J. Newman delivers another white-knuckle, high-altitude thriller that takes off fast, nosedives into worst case scenarios after a pilot suffers a heart attack and the plane crashes into a nuclear power plant.
Everyday Heroes, Extraordinary Measures
The story zeroes in on a small town racing to prevent a nuclear meltdown. I’ll admit—some of the technical nuclear jargon made my eyes glaze over. But what really propels the story is the human element: these characters and the impossible choices they face.
Even in dramatized moments, T.J. Newman writes about people who feel real—flawed, brave, scared, and fiercely protective. It’s so refreshing to see ordinary people rising to the occasion in extraordinary ways.
Final Approach
It’s a wild ride from takeoff to touchdown. This story is pure intensity—with zero turbulence when it comes to pacing. Even when the scientific detail slows things down, the emotional stakes and life-or-death tension keep the pages flying by.
T.J. Newman isn’t coming in for a crash landing anytime soon—she’s flying high at thriller-queen altitude, and she’s not dropping anytime soon.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
T.J. Newman delivers another white-knuckle, high-altitude thriller that takes off fast, nosedives into worst case scenarios after a pilot suffers a heart attack and the plane crashes into a nuclear power plant.
Everyday Heroes, Extraordinary Measures
The story zeroes in on a small town racing to prevent a nuclear meltdown. I’ll admit—some of the technical nuclear jargon made my eyes glaze over. But what really propels the story is the human element: these characters and the impossible choices they face.
Even in dramatized moments, T.J. Newman writes about people who feel real—flawed, brave, scared, and fiercely protective. It’s so refreshing to see ordinary people rising to the occasion in extraordinary ways.
Final Approach
It’s a wild ride from takeoff to touchdown. This story is pure intensity—with zero turbulence when it comes to pacing. Even when the scientific detail slows things down, the emotional stakes and life-or-death tension keep the pages flying by.
T.J. Newman isn’t coming in for a crash landing anytime soon—she’s flying high at thriller-queen altitude, and she’s not dropping anytime soon.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
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