This story is told in first person from multiple narrators and follows the story of Jasmine and Stephanie who were on a flight together but disappear under mysterious circumstances shortly thereafter. I primarily listened to the audiobook for this story which was narrated by a full cast including Andrew Eiden, Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick, Fred Berman, Gail Shalan, Hillary Huber, Jennifer Pickens, John Pirhalla, Kimberly M. Wetherell, Kirby Heyborne, and Tim Campbell. This was a great choice. It looks like a lot of characters, but it quickly had me enthralled with what had happened to these two women as their friends, family and coworkers all weigh in with what they know about them.

Stephanie is a divorced mother to an adult son who now spends more time with his father than her. She is the news director at a local TV station in Madison, Wisconsin. Her coworkers probably know her better than anyone. Jasmine works as a waitress and is fleeing an abusive boyfriend. Her responses to things are often mind-boggling. They both send texts to friends that they have met a guy named Trent McCarthy before disappearing.

This story had me on the edge of my seat. Even when some of my suspicious were confirmed, I still couldn’t figure out what was going on overall or what would happen next. It was a crazy ride full of unpredictable characters and I couldn’t stop reading or listening. I flew through this in just over a day and I loved the ending twist.

Recommended to twisty thriller readers.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.

Jasmine is escaping an abusive relationship and Stephanie is on her way to a business conference. With nothing in common, these two women end up in the same row on a flight and their loved ones start to get the same text messages about a man named Trent McCarthy. They’re then both declared missing.

This was a really good book with LOTS of twists. There’s also lots of POVs, but I didn’t find it confusing. It kept the story moving along great. The writing was simple but it kept me hooked the whole way through as I need to know what happened. The end was satisfying as well. I would be interested in reading more from this author as this is a debut.

🚨 Book Review: The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia
💌 Thank you to author Jessie Garcia, @stmartinspress, and @NetGalley for the chance to read this gripping ARC! I'd also like to thank the #sqafbookclub for reading with me. I enjoyed your thoughts on the book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars) - Possible unpopular review - I really wanted to like this book more.

The Business Trip is a high-stakes thriller that doesn’t hold back. Jessie Garcia weaves a tale of secrets, betrayal, and the dangerous lengths people will go to protect their secrets. The plot moves quickly, pulling you into a tangled web of deception and intrigue. While the pace kept me hooked, some moments felt a little predictable, and the character development could have gone deeper to pack a stronger emotional punch.

What worked:
✔️ Non-stop action and twists that keep you turning pages
✔️ A tense atmosphere that had me on edge
✔️ Bold themes of ambition and moral compromise
✔️ Unlikeable characters that you can't help being drawn to

What could have been stronger:
✘ Some twists were a bit predictable
✘ Key relationships felt underexplored, leaving some emotional stakes flat
✘ The ending wrapped up a bit too quickly for me

If you’re a fan of fast-paced thrillers with high tension and corporate drama, this debut is for you.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. It kept me guessing. However, about halfway through, it became implausible for me to really believe the plot. I felt the end twist was okay but didn’t make up for the unbelievable storyline.

What a twisty ride this one was! This almost had too many perspectives to get super confusing, but it kept me on my toes to really pay attention. I really enjoyed how many different ways this took me!

One popcorn thriller 🍿 coming right up!

Thank you @stmartinspress for my #gifted copy!

Stephanie and Jasmine’s lives are about to cross in a way no one could have expected. When the two vanish after a plane ride, those around them are determined to figure out what is going on. Told in alternating POVs, this book will hook you from the beginning and keep you enthralled with its twists.

I inhaled this book! I was looking for a fast-paced thriller, and wow did The Business Trip deliver. It was a bit out there in terms of thriller plot, but that’s part of what I loved about the story.

I highly recommend picking this one up blind. Do yourself a favor and don’t look up a lot before you read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Out January 14!

3.5/5 stars

This is a debut thriller divided into 4 parts. There are multiple POVs.

The story is about Jasmine and Stephanie who are on the same plane. Jasmine is escaping her life and Stephanie is a news director going on a business trip.

Even though there were many POVs I was actually quite invested in the story for the first three parts. Something happens with both women and I really enjoyed getting to see their friends and coworkers points of view.

There were two men who I found quite despicable. I was definitely hoping that they would get what they deserved.

The book was good. But where it lost me a bit was Part 4 where everything was explained. The author decided to do a very long 10 chapter explanation. This was long. But in addition I did not love how things played out (including one reveal that unfortunately didn’t really work for me).

Overall this was was a quick read. The story was told in a different way. And I did not lose interest.

OMGoodness!!! I loved this book! I loved all the twists and unexpected turns! When I got to that last twist I was so shocked! This book was a fast read and a great book for a debut! Can't wait to read more by this author!

I read this book in less than 24 hours, and I could not put it down. But that doesn’t mean it was actually good, just engaging.

This book suffers from the classic “great set up and 85% of the story but truly fails in the end” syndrome. The ending was so very manufactured and half thought out that it almost made me laugh out loud. But the first 2/3 of it were great! Just….not that truly bizarre and bad end.

Jessie Garcia’s The Business Trip is a thriller that grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go until the very end. The plot is masterfully crafted, filled with twists and surprises that kept me on edge throughout. I found myself fully invested in the story, unable to put the book down as I eagerly followed the characters through their complex journey. One of the standout aspects of this novel is the character development. Garcia skillfully brings the cast to life, making it easy to root for, or despise, the right people.

The only reason I couldn’t give this book a full 5 stars is the pacing. While the story was undeniably gripping, it moved a little too slowly for my taste at times. That being said, the suspense and payoff made the slower moments worth it. If you’re a fan of thrillers with unexpected twists and compelling characters, The Business Trip is definitely worth a read. Jessie Garcia delivers a captivating story that lingers with you long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This story is about two women, Jasmine and Stephanie. They are complete opposites of each other. What happens when they meet on an airplane flight is what The Business Trip is all about.
Talk about a twisty, suspenseful and mysterious plot.
I do have to say some of the things going on were a bit far-fetched and unlikely to happen.
The ending is one I did not predict……what a wrap up to a very engrossing story.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

If there is one thing I can say about this book, it’s that the author managed to present the unfolding mystery and clues in a way that kept me almost glued to this book for the two days I spent reading it.

Admittedly, there were a few plot points that seemed a little too convenient and that was frustrating at times, because they felt like weak points in an otherwise very strong plot. I think a few minor edits could have made things not seemed contrived in the end.

That being said, the book was certainly unique in the way the author allowed the mystery to build and unfold. At first I was put off by the myriad of character viewpoints, but then I grew to like the way it gave a natural development to the mystery.

Stephanie and Jasmine don’t seem to have much in common when they randomly meet on a flight to Denver. Stephanie is on a routine business trip and Stephanie is fleeing an abusive relationship. A few days later, they begin texting their friends and coworkers back home some very strange messages… and then they disappear.

There is a lot of suspense and tension as the mystery slowly builds and the unfolds. It’s fast-paced, and likely to be a quick book for most avid readers.

At first, I didn’t like the author’s style very much. She has a tendency to linger on stage movement and giving play-by-plays of a characters every little movement and action, more often than not in a way that doesn’t entirely benefit the pacing or plot of the story.

What I liked best about this book were the subtle hints at feminist rage that almost made you want to root for the “bad guy”. I always love a little touch of feminist rage in my books.

The final twist at the end did not land well with me. I honestly felt the book would have been just as good, if not better, without that final twist. It had the air of being added last minute and didn’t thread well with the hints and plot laid out before the reveal.

I would not be opposed to reading more books from this author in the future. I see a lot of potential for some great stories from them. I think this book in particular will have wide appeal due to the fast pacing and easy narrative style. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery/thriller and wants to read something quick and fun.

3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy!
This one is out now!!

Wow - this was definitely different, but in a good way! I really enjoyed how we were given the different POvs. I think it helped the story unfold and overall had me a bit stumped on just how things would play out. I knew what was going to happen overall, but how we got to that point was still a great story!

This had a good pace.

DNF @40%

This book was not for me. There is a massive cast of characters, all of whom get a POV. Most voices sounded identical and offered little value to the story. For example, we don't need to hear from 3 of Steph's colleagues when she didn't have a personal relationship with any of them. One would have sufficed as their interactions at the newsroom would have revealed the minor details the other people contributed anyway. Character development really makes or breaks a book for me, and unfortunately these characters were all paper thin. I didn't care about what happened to Steph or Jasmine, so I called it quits.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me the chance to read an early digital copy of this book and for the finished copy they sent my way. I absolutely devoured this book. It is hard for me to believe that this is a debut by Jessie Garcia; it certainly makes me excited to see what she comes up with next! I have been a bit burned out on thrillers lately, so I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one. I read a lot of positive reviews on this book, and I am happy to report that it lived up to the hype. This one is so entertaining and juicy, I found myself racing through the pages to find out what was going to happen next.

I was interested in the premise of this book and I am always enjoy a good thriller. This had a great structure and really pulled you in by describing the lives of two very distinct female characters. However, it lost me with the envy and jealousy one of the characters had that lead her to make several choices that helped us anticipate to some extent the plot. I struggled with the character (Jasmine) using her feel for needing to have a life she felt she should be entitled to as motivator for her actions. I did enjoy seeing the different perspectives of the people around the characters. I was interested enough to want to finish the story but I did not always enjoy the details. It's an interesting read but a bit predictable once you realize one of the character's backstories. I will say I did not see the plot twist in the end.

"The Business Trip" is dubbed as a "gripping, page-turning debut from author Jessie Garcia" and I could not agree more.

Two unrelated women take trips and end up missing, leaving only traces of odd occurrences and scraps of information in their place. What do they have in common, you ask? Trent McCarthy is your answer since they both crossed paths with him before disappearing.

As we progress further into the novel, the reader picks up breadcrumbs, impecibly placed by Garcia. We learn more about Jasmine and Stephanie and their lives leading up to their disappearances. The progression is smooth until Garcia cranks up the volume and takes us on a wild ride. You better buckle up!

With nothing off limits, the reader rides the roller coaster, hanging on for dear life. Unfortunately, for me, the ride goes off the rails a little bit by the end (no spoilers!). There is a character mentioned toward the end that is important to the story that I could not place. I had no idea who it was and I had to go searching for the name. That may have been intended but it halted the ride for me.

Also, I was hooked immediately, curious about the two women, but very quickly the reader is flooded with different perspectives. I audibly whined "Another narrator?" and took a couple weeks break. Once I returned, and quit being a baby, I pushed through and realized the different perspectives are crucial to the story and make it better.

All in all, check it out, it's worth the price of admission. It's wickedly fun.

This book was shocking. It was not what I expected and once I got into the story I was even more shocked.

1 person leaves to go on a business trip, another is trying to get away from an abuser and somehow they meet. What follows will blow your mind.

Thanks to netGalley and the publisher for the arc.

The Business Trip is Jessie Garcia's fiction debut.

Garcia introduces us to the lead character - Jasmine. She's in a really bad domestic situation and has been planning for a year to get away. When her moment appears, she doesn't look back. And then she meets Stephanie. And an opportunity presents itself...

Garcia has penned a great suspense tale. There's no lack of twists and turns to be had. Those twists will take you right down to the last pages. Garcia has crafted a 'can't put it down" tale. You might have to suspend belief with some bits, especially the ending, but just go with it. The book is very entertaining.

I liked how the book was presented from many viewpoints and supporting characters. Who to tell? Who to believe?

3.5 stars rounding up to 4! This was a solid thriller with many twists and turns. I actually listened to the audiobook and there appeared to be a narrator for each character which helped bring the story to life more. I enjoyed the different POVs and that there were more than two characters but not too many that it got confusing. I also really liked the writing style and plan to read more from the author! Definitely fans of thrillers will enjoy this one. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.