Bestselling Author T.J. Newman Reveals Her Favorite Books

Bestselling author T.J. Newman shares some of her favorite books exclusively with Parade. The flight attendant turned bestselling author of thrillers, has her latest airplane disaster book “Worst Case Scenario” hitting stores on August 12. It captures the tension and high drama when a commercial airline pilot has a sudden heart attack, causing the craft to plummet down to earth and hit a nuclear power plant.

Literally, everything goes wrong—Newman delights in making readers anxious and sleep-deprived as they worry about a little boy stuck in a car dangling off a bridge, townspeople struggling to prevent a nuclear disaster, and the gripping need to find out what happens next.

Newman finds joy in readers’ reactions. “I’m sorry to say, I’m thrilled to hear it,” she laughs. “When a reader says, ‘I stayed up all night, I sobbed hysterically, I was so scared,’ it’s music to my ears.”

“Worst Case Scenario” by T.J. Newman ($30; Little, Brown and Company) available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org.

Newman burst onto the bestseller scene in 2021 with her debut novel “Falling,” where a pilot is blackmailed by terrorists to either crash the plane or have his family killed. Her second hit, “Drowning,” in 2023, depicted a plane crashing into the Pacific. Newman is currently working on the screenplay for “Falling” for Universal, with writer Steve Kloves and director Paul Greengrass tackling “Drowning.”

Her Hollywood experience has significantly impacted her writing style, making it more cinematic with each book. “Writing the screenplay for ‘Falling’ has been the greatest learning experience,” Newman says. “It has made me a better novelist because it forces you to trim a story to its essence.”

The novel is reminiscent of classic disaster movies from Hollywood, featuring a diverse cast of characters from the youngest U.S. President in history to workers at a nuclear power plant, all with vivid backstories and driving impulses. The pace of the novel is relentless, making it impossible for readers to catch their breath between scenes.

“Those big 90s action thrillers—like ‘Armageddon,’ ‘Air Force One,’ ‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘Twister’—were my bread and butter growing up. It’s the way I see stories. That’s why I write the way I write,” Newman says.

She not only loves popcorn movies but also has a deep love for books. Here, she shares the books that have affected her the most and offers some great recommendations.

Courtesy of Laurel Leaf

“Where The Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls

“Growing up, ‘Where the Red Fern Grows’ was the first book that moved me deeply. I remember clutching the book to my chest and sobbing. That moment changed how I related to literature. It made me realize the power of books, and it was then I thought, ‘I want to do that kind of magic trick.’”

Courtesy of Anchor

“The Stand” by Stephen King

“My parents are avid readers and read to us every night. They avoided letting me read Stephen King too early, knowing I’d be too scared to sleep. Books were my solace, and if I was in trouble, taking my books was my punishment. Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’ was a transformative read for me.”

Courtesy of Scholastic

“The Babysitters Club 18 Book Collection” by Ann M. Martin

“For one birthday, I received a box set of ‘The Babysitters Club.’ I remember feeling so grown-up reading the longer super special editions. It was like a rite of passage.”

Courtesy of Signet

“Animal Farm” by George Orwell

Newman recalls being in a special program as a kid where she read “Animal Farm” in third grade. “That book made me see the world differently. It showed me the complexity of human nature. Kids can understand more than we give them credit for.”

Courtesy of Ballantine Books

“Jurassic Park” by Michael Crichton

“Michael Crichton was my North Star. The first time I read ‘Jurassic Park’ and saw the movie, it blew my mind. His career and storytelling influence me deeply.”

Courtesy of W.W. Norton and Company

“Flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival” by Laurence Gonzales

“I read a lot of nonfiction. ‘Flight 232’ is one of my favorites. It’s about a flight that loses all hydraulics but manages to land with about half the people surviving. It’s an incredible survival story.”

Courtesy of Simon & Schuster

“Shoe Dog” by Phil Knight

“I’m fascinated by how people achieve great things. ‘Shoe Dog’ details how Phil Knight transformed a struggling shoe into Nike. I always want to know how the magic trick is done.”

Newman’s literary journey is a testament to her talent and love for stories that grip the mind, much like the books she loves.

“Worst Case Scenario” by T.J. Newman ($30; Little, Brown and Company) is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org.

Source: Parade