Book Review Tuesday: Falling by T.J. Newman #thriller #suspense @T_J_Newman

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Warm and cozy window seat with cushions and a opened book, light through vintage shutters, rustic style home decor. Small cat on window seat, along with coffee cup by pillow, Words Book Review Tuesday superimposed over image

Hoo-boy, hoo-boy! I just finished a book that has to be the BEACH READ OF THE SUMMER! It has “blockbuster movie” written all over it, and I have no doubt Hollywood is already knocking at the author’s door. Falling is definitely one of my top reads of 2021. The hard copy was just a few dollars more than the Kindle version, and with a cover like this, I couldn’t resist indulging. I’m pleased to say the story lives up to the amazing cover and the hype. I’ve been seeing this one all over the place and couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. What a thrill ride!

BOOK BLURB:

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER

“T. J. Newman has written the perfect thriller! A must-read.” —Gillian Flynn
“Stunning and relentless. This is Jaws at 35,000 feet.” —Don Winslow
“Falling is the best kind of thriller…Nonstop, totally authentic suspense.” —James Patterson
“Amazing…Intense suspense, shocks, and scares…Chilling.” —Lee Child

You just boarded a flight to New York.

There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard.

What you don’t know is that thirty minutes before the flight your pilot’s family was kidnapped.

For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die.

The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane.

Enjoy the flight.

MY REVIEW:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The Beach Read of the summer!

I’m already anticipating the blockbuster movie. This is a story that keeps you enthralled from page one, but continually ups the stakes with each successive chapter. During the last half, I couldn’t flip pages fast enough, annoyed by the slightest distraction that threatened to pull me from the book.

Captain Bill Hoffman has taken a last minute flight from LA to NY, much to the chagrin of his wife, Carrie. She was counting on his presence at their son’s Little League game but Bill’s decision quickly spirals into a nightmare for both of them–and countless others.

Targeted by terrorists, Carrie frantically tries to keep her family alive on the ground while Bill faces impossible decisions in the air, every choice impacting the lives of the passengers aboard his flight.

This is an adrenaline-fueled, emotional roller coaster. Be prepared to gnaw your fingernails and teeter on a seesaw of right vs. wrong. Many lives comes into play–not just Bill, Carrie, and their children, but Bill’s flight crew, FBI personnel, and those on board. I especially loved senior flight attendant, Jo and her courage in the face of impossible circumstances.

Some reviewers have called a few specific scenes corny, but I loved them. I saw them playing out on the “big screen” complete with gasps and cheers from a movie-going audience, myself included.

The author said she had forty-one rejections before finding an agent to take a chance on her manuscript. His vision is our gain. Newman, a former flight attendant, wrote this book on red-eye flights over a ten year period. I’m thankful she stuck with the manuscript. The finished novel ranks among those books I consider my top reads of the year. I can’t say enough about the frantic pace in which the last half plays out. I have no doubt that Hollywood will scoop this one up quickly.

79 thoughts on “Book Review Tuesday: Falling by T.J. Newman #thriller #suspense @T_J_Newman”

  3. Absolutely fascinating premise. Thank you for pointing this book out, Mae, and for sharing your great review. I’ve got more reading to do! 😊

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    • It’s an awesome novel, Gwen. I’d been hearing a lot of buzz about it, read a few great reviews and was sold. I’m so glad I took the plunge….um, buying the book that is. I guess “plunge” is not the best word to use when referring to a book called “Falling.” 😀

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  4. Wow. Sounds like a major thriller, for sure, Mae. Trouble for me is, I’m already terrified of flying. Always have been, but lately, even more so. But with my daughter & family so far away, it’s the only way we can visit them. I have a feeling if I read this book, I won’t even be able to find the courage to make that trip once a year. Eeeeep.

    It does sound like a blockbuster movie, too, though, so for now, I’m going to put it on my “Definite Maybe” list. 😀 Thanks for such a stellar endorsement and review, and we’ll see if I’m able to convince myself into reading it at some point. (Probably not until after my next trip west, though.) 😀

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    • I’m not overly fond of flying myself, Marcia. After reading this book I’ll be even less so, but wow was it good. I really do hope it gets picked up for a movie. It would make an exceptional one.

      And, hey, I like the idea of a “definite maybe” list. I’m going to have to come up with one of those myself! 🙂

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      • I have several books on mine. Some of them are topics I’m “iffy” about, and some are topics I have to be in the right frame of mind to handle. It’s helpful to have them listed so I can check them out when I’m in the right mood or feel like I can handle a touchy subject. (I can’t read books where anything bad happens to a child, for instance, unless it’s handled very delicately. It upsets me terribly.) Yeah, you should try a Definite Maybe list for things you need to think about a bit more before trying. Very helpful. 😀

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      • Forgot to mention, I’m sure you know this, but just in case, you can keep all sorts of lists on Amazon for books in every category and for regular shopping items, too. I have them set up under Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, General Reading, House & Garden, Clothing, and on and on, including Definite Maybe. Then if I decide to try one of those, it’s just a click away. 😀

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      • I have a LOT of triggers, various things I can’t read about and harm to children is one of them. The older I get, the bigger my list becomes, so I fully get your hesitation.

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    • That’s awesome, Jill. I can’t imagine you and your father NOT enjoying this story. It was just so riveting, and the characters are wonderful. I’m glad you liked my review and I wish you both happy reading!

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  7. Mae, I saw this in ads a few times and wondered about it. Sounds like a must-read for thriller lovers! I enjoyed learning that the writer took ten years to complete this – makes me feel not so bad about my snails pace, and shows that perfect pays off! Thanks for this interesting review!!

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    • Heehee. I went from this to a DNF, then picked up a mystery/suspense, which is turning out to be really good. I do hear you, though, about needing breaks in between. I just read a few fluffier-type books a short while ago, so I was due for a high octane read 🙂

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  13. Such high praise! I’m glad you mentioned that the hardcover was just a bit more than the kindle version. I’m trying to fill my hard cover thriller shelves a bit more, so I went ahead and bought it. Excellent review, Mae. I especially loved the bits of behind the scenes info.

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    • I’m so glad you grabbed it, Tessa. I can’t wait to see your review!

      I like to have a selection of hard covers on my bookshelf, too. With that dramatic cover, I snatched this one up as soon as I saw the difference in price from the Kindle version. Amazon seems to have really good deals on their hardback books.

      The author has an acknowledgement section in the back, which is where I picked up the behind-the-scenes info. I thought it was so interesting—and a reminder to writers everywhere to keep submitting in the face of countless rejections!

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    • It’s definitely frightening from a passenger’s perspective, Staci. The next time I get on a plane, I’m going to have to make a point to put this book from my mind. Reading it poolside, however, was a great diversion! 🙂

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      • My time availability for reading is low, sadly. It’s basically reserved for those days when I’m too tired to be productive, because I *always* have tons to do. (And for when I’m in the bathroom. Ahem.) But I still take a break here and there for blog reading. Which compounds both problems. Gah!! 🙂

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      • Ah, if we only had more hours in the day. I am right there with you. I set aside reading time each night before I go to bed. It helps me unwind. And in the summer, I love reading by the pool on weekends. If not for that, I wouldn’t get through half the books I do!

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  18. Forty-one rejections… just goes to show, Mae. The cover is makes my heart skip a beat every time I look at it. Yikes. And apparently that’s a good description of the read. It sounds gripping. And it seems like you sense a movie in the making? Hehe. I’ll watch it as long as Liam Neeson doesn’t play Bill. 😀 Great review and thanks for the recommendation.

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    • Good for you with no fear of flying, Michele. I’m not a huge fan, but I do what I have to do when I have to do it to get where I need to go. Next time I get on plane, I’m putting this book out of my mind, LOL.

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  22. I’ve seen publicity about this one, but this is the first review I’ve read. I love that it was written by a flight attendant – she can definitely lend authenticity to it. I agree it has blockbuster all over it. I’d love to read the book, and I’d absolutely see the movie. Thanks for the rec, Mae!

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    • Falling has had a lot of publicity which has helped kicked it to #1. Put it’s well deserved. I really loved it, Teri. It would make an incredible movie, and I’d be right there in line with you! 🙂

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  27. What a fabulous review, Mae! It’s such a thrill when a book really grabs and won’t let go! I would be willing to bet Hollywood is already knocking on this author’s door. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

    Liked by 1 person

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