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My Review of Worst Case Scenario by TJ Newman discusses the fact that I’m a bit of a airplane-phobe. I am just slowly getting into TJ Newman’s books, which are all about air travel gone VERY wrong. I read Falling and survived, so decided to try Worst Case Scenario, which was quite different than I expected. Let’s discuss!
Worst Case Scenario: Overview
- Published on August 13, 2024 by Little, Brown. Thanks to the publisher for an advance review copy
- 336 pages
- Also by T.J. Newman: Falling (2021) and Drowning (2023)
Worst Case Scenario: Jen’s Quick Take
- A classic TJ Newman “disaster thriller” with a twist
- Having watched Chernobyl on HBO (highly recommend!) I thought the focus on the nuclear power plant was an interesting surprise
- With two plot lines and a LOT of characters, Worst Case Scenario felt less focused than Falling
- But the last pages got there in the end
- For you IF you love disaster thriller movies
- Not for you IF you dislike books that feel like movies on a page
Review of Worst Case Scenario
Way back in the 1980s there was a movie called Airplane! that I remember my parents watching. What I didn’t know was that it was a spoof of a 1970s disaster movie (and 1960s book) called Airport in which a plane tries to land in a terrible blizzard (how quaint that premise seems now!)
Well, TJ Newman has reinvigorated the travel disaster genre with her books Falling, Drowning, and now Worst Case Scenario.
Because I’m a nervous flyer, I had put off reading this book until I’d finished my summer air travel. Then when I read Worst Case Scenario, I realized it wasn’t even (much) about an air disaster at all.
No, this book is about a midwestern town trying to averting a nuclear meltdown. So if you watched Chernobyl on HBO (which I highly recommend) you’ll understand the concept.
What I Liked about Worst Case Scenario
- I liked the trope of the town pulling together to save the world
- The whole book (especially the ending) felt very cinematic and I’m wondering if the author is angling for a movie deal on this one. (She has sold rights to both her prior books but I don’t see either one in development. Apple TV already made Hijack so maybe the airplane thriller lane is full at the moment).
What I Didn’t Like As Much About Worst Case Scenario
- I think this story might work better as a screenplay than a book.
- There was a HUGE cast of characters and it was hard to keep them straight, plus figure out nuclear fusion and splitting atoms and such.
- There was a subplot that I thought detracted from the main story. I understand the reason for it, but it felt a little unnecessary.
- If you have NO understanding of nuclear power, it’s a lot to absorb. Watch Chernobyl first!
Tell me your thoughts about disaster thrillers, air travel, and nuclear power in comments!
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