At 35,000 feet the pilot of a commercial airplane has a heart attack, causing the plane to crash and killing everyone on board. While this is a tragic event for all involved and their families, the situation is made exponentially worse thanks to where the plane crashes: a nuclear power plant. Now the small town of Waketa, Minnesota is the center of a crisis that could have far reaching consequences, not just for the town but for the entire planet. Now the ordinary citizens of Waketa must come together to try to avert disaster that could rival, if not surpass, the devastation that occurred in Fukushima and Chernobyl.

Worst Case Scenario is another fast-paced, edge-of-you-seat novel by the amazing T.J. Newman; I’m not sure I ever want to fly in a plane again after having read her novels. The cast of characters are simply phenomenal. They are all everyday people doing whatever is necessary to save those whom they love and the planet as a whole; I could really connect with all of them and feel their terror as they navigate an unimaginable situation, as well as their bravery and selflessness. Newman’s writing puts the reader right in the middle of the events, and the cliffhangers at the ends of the chapters made this a novel that I could not put down. It is an adrenaline-filled, emotional novel that shows the resiliency and bravery that many are capable of when facing the dangerous unknown.

The audiobook was amazing as well. Morton does a great job delivering the events in intense, emotional and suspenseful ways thanks to his pacing and inflection. I also loved the addition of sound effects and voice modification during the CB radio and intercom sections; they helped to pull me into the story more than I already was courtesy of Newman’s writing.

Thank you to Little Brown and Company for my copy of WORST CASE SCENARIO.

Add this to my pile of slam dunk books by TJ Newman, because I will always snatch up her books. I loved that this one was still in her wheel house but it took us into a different direction. I really can see any of her books becoming films because they really come to life on the page. I highly recommend this one!

T.J. Newman's Worst Case Scenario is a page-turner that kept me reading. The vivid portrayal of a potential nuclear disaster had me researching safety protocols for my own state. Her ability to create suspenseful and emotionally resonant characters is something else. I found myself deeply invested in the lives of each individual, their struggles, and their choices.

The novel's intricate plot, filled with twists and turns, kept me guessing until the very end. The emotional weight of the story is heavy, and I found myself reflecting on the characters' decisions long after finishing the book. I can't wait to read more of her work.

Thank you to Little, Brown, and Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

As always, T.J. Newman's writing is both passionate and insightful. The story moves at a gripping pace, filled with raw emotion and a deep sense of humanity. It's an adrenaline rush from start to finish, keeps you interested and on the edge of your seat. If you loved her other books, this is not going to disappoint. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, I enjoyed seeing the perspectives from the White House and the power plant. I did listen to the audio book and enjoyed the narrators and the sounds of the air traffic controls; it added to the intensity of the story. If you like a jolt of adrenaline with a nail-biting premise, this is your book! 3.5 stars rounded up for the audiobook.

I read T.J. Newman’s debut, Falling, and upon seeing she had a new book out this year, I knew I wanted to add it to my list. The biggest difference between the two books is that her debut had us in the airplane for most of the action, while Worst Case Scenario does not.

When a commercial jet crashes into a nuclear power plant in a small midwestern town, the clock begins ticking down to a global national disaster. Over the course of about 330 pages, we follow the citizens of Waketa, Minnesota from the time the plane crashes until “zero hour”. As the hours pass, we see plant workers, firefighters, teachers, and neighbors as they make tough choices and race to contain the radioactivity.

Newman is a master at balancing suspense and thrills with strong character development. I was rooting for all of the people involved and hoping they would all survive and be successful in their efforts. I also give her props for educating me on nuclear energy in the process. This was a hard one to put down–I wanted to keep flipping to know how it would all end. You’ll fly through this one (see what I did there)! Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really wanted to love this one, but I had a hard time getting into it and keeping up with all of the characters.
Around 60% it did pick up for me and I felt myself rushing to finish so I could see how it ends. And honestly not going to lie, I did shed some tears!

I’ll admit, i first requested this book from netgalley because it sounded kind of ridiculous. The kind of over-the-top disaster that leads to a movie starring a former WWE wrestler. I started it this morning on my commute, and by the time i got to work, I was 43% through, and I was HOOKED. Now, i’m sobbing and blowing my nose, because although it was ridiculous in some ways - it was the best ways. Tense, action-packed, far-fetched, and oh so deeply human. Initially intended as a palate cleanser, I enjoyed this so much more than I expected. What a thrill, what a ride. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Good read. Kept me guessing but I don't know that I loved it. I enjoyed it but some parts felt too technical for my taste.

TJ does it again! I read both by audio and reading and personally felt I could follow the abundance of characters better by audio than reading. I really liked that this was less airplane centered like her first two and instead what happens after an airplane event. It shows TJ can step a bit outside her comfort zone. Loved it!

T.j. Newman is back again with another disaster thriller. I love this authors ability to plunge you into a situation that you would never imagine finding yourself in and makes it believable.

I absolutely adored Falling and Drowning, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Newman’s newest release. While this book definitely delivers the drama and suspense we’ve all come to expect from Newman’s novels, it was by far my least favorite of the three.

This story opens up with the “worst case scenario” when a pilot has a heart attack mid-flight and the plane crashes into a nuclear power plant in rural Minnesota. Instead of following the passengers on the flight and awaiting their fate, we know right away that all the passengers perish, and instead this is a story about trying to avoid a disaster of global proportions in the aftermath.

I think the main thing that lost me a bit was that a lot of the details about the nuclear energy and the potential disaster went over my head. I didn’t realize before reading this book how much I had no idea how nuclear power works. 😅 Though Newman did a good job explaining what it all meant, it did go over my head and I found it hard to really follow what was going on throughout the action of the book.

My favorite part of the book was the glimpses we got into the community and the ways that people would reach out to help a neighbor in a crisis. I found those parts to be hopeful and uplifting and perfect to offset the drama of the rest of the book.

Overall, this book wasn’t a huge hit for me but I will definitely keep reading whatever TJ Newman writes.

I loved this just as much as Falling. Excellent, gripping books that grab you right from the beginning.

Great book!
Very graphic at times, especially at the first of the book.
Constant action, I became very anxious at times while reading it.
I would and will recommend to others.

I loved TJ Newmans previous books Falling and Drowning. I couldn’t wait to see what she did next! When I found out her newest book was focused on a plane crashing into a nuclear power plant that was all I needed to hear! I live about 50 miles from a nuclear plant so I have always been a bit intrigued. Newman did in fact give us almost every worst case scenario. I enjoyed this books so much! Action packed. Tragedies and triumph. It was like watching a 90s blockbuster. My only criticism was the ending which seems to wrap up rather quickly. 4 stars! Can’t wait for the next one!

TJ Newman is so freaking talented. I bet there are quite a few people kicking themselves in the ass for passing on her. Her latest—Worst Case Scenario—is a little different from the previous books but no less stressful. Worst Case Scenario spends less than 1% of the book inside the plane. All that’s good, bad, and ugly; the soul-crushing despair and beauty the book has to offer occur after the crash. Having Hollywood stalk her is a testament to her talent and she shows no signs of slowing. The rope-a-dope she pulled wasn't very nice, though.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for an advanced copy of Worst Case Scenario via NetGalley.

I'll just say it—I'm a huge TJ Newman fan. I read "Drowning" on vacation in one sitting, and since then, I knew I would read anything she published. Worse Case Scenario is a slight departure from Newman's previous work, which all had to do with the intricacies of how things could go very, very wrong on the inside of an airplane. An airplane is involved in this book too, but it's not the site of the drama—rather, after a heart attack takes out the pilot and a passenger plane hurtles into a nuclear power plant, various citizens of a small town have to prevent utter, world-altering catastrophe. Newman's pacing is breakneck, and her research is impressive. She clearly puts a lot more time into figuring out the exact way a disaster would unfold than about 80% of her thriller writer peers. I enjoyed this book immensely, but it did seem to end very quickly—I'd have loved about two more chapters of denoument, and explanation of what actually happens in the wake of a near-catastrophic event. I assume deadlines prevented Newman from that kind of wind-down, and I don't really blame her publishers. If Newman was my author, I'd want her putting out as many books as quickly as possible. It's honestly wild they haven't been picked up as the premise for a movie or TV show yet. I'll be waiting on tenterhooks for her next thriller.

This book was fast paced, action packed and I loved it. I've purchased 2 other T.J. Newman novels about airplanes and she does not disappoint (I even picked one for book club and it was a huge hit).

A plane crash is a tragic, unfathomable event. A plane crash into a nuclear reactor is the worst case scenario. As workers try desperately to contain the radiation and avoid a nuclear meltdown, the nearby town is dealing with the aftermath of the crash. Impossible decisions will need to be made and not everyone will make it out alive.

TJ Newman tells these stories of unimaginable tragedy, complicated fixes, and impossible decisions like no one else. The suspense is perfectly timed as the scenario unfolds. The children in the story and the potential long term impacts of radiation exposure hit a little too close to home for me. Newman's story telling is so realistic that I felt like I was in it. Another top notch thriller from Newman!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC of Worst Case Scenario.

Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman is a heart-pounding, adrenaline-fueled thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Newman’s ability to create tension and high-stakes drama is unmatched, as she plunges us the reader into a world where every decision can mean life or death. The characters are well-developed, each bringing their own complexities and emotional depth to the story. Newman masterfully blends action with human vulnerability, making the characters’ struggles feel real and relatable. The pacing is perfect—fast enough to keep the momentum going, but not so rushed that it sacrifices character development or plot intricacy. One of the standout elements of this book is its immersive nature. The vivid descriptions make you feel as if you’re right there with the characters, experiencing the same fear, urgency, and determination. Newman’s background in aviation adds authenticity to the technical details, making the scenarios not only believable but utterly captivating. If you’re a fan of high-octane thrillers that captivate you from the start and holds you in a death grip and that keep you guessing until the very end, Worst Case Scenario is a must-read. It’s a roller-coaster of emotions and excitement that will leave you breathless and eager for more until the very last page. Many tears were shed and I endured alot of stress while reading. I loved this better than falling.

This book had me in the edge of my seat! I could literally feel my heart beating out of my chest at certain moments! Action packed with great characters! Another winner from this author!