Was hooked by this book from the first chapter and was pulled deep into the story through all the twists and turns until the surprise and satisfying ending. Jessie Garcia put together a group of believable characters, each with their own strengths, failures, and shortcomings that lead us through this psychological suspense drama.

The book begins with Jasmine's story. She is the unwanted youngest child of a single mother who treated her horrible from the day she was born until she reached the age where she could strike off on her own. After a stumbling start, she ends up partnered with Glenn. Smitten at first, Jasmine discovers that Glenn is a controlling bully who keeps her on a very tight leash forcing Jasmine to plot her way out. Saving money from the tips she received as a bar waitress and pocketing what she could from Glenn's money, Jasmine saves enough to break free and fly off to start a new life.

Then we meet Stephanie. Recently divorced and the mother of one adult son, Stephanie is a very successful manager of the news team of a Madison Wisconsin TV station. When her boss suggests that she go to a conference in San Diego for newsroom executives, She packs up and heads to the airport where she is seated next to Jasmine on the flight to Denver where she is to meet her connecting flight.

That's where the book takes a twist. Jasmine and Stephanie are no longer the focus of the novel. Instead we hear of what is happening in their lives through texts and messages to their friends and colleagues. What they are told is the story of each woman finding new love—interestingly with the same man: Trent, the newsroom director from a TV station in Atlanta. The scene turns from San Diego to Atlanta and Trent's home. Things spiral until Stephanie's texts report that Trent has turned violent. Then both women disappear. The rest of the book spins the story of what really happened in San Diego and Atlanta.

I loved this book and highly recommend it to all who love a thrilling psychological drama. It is well written, tightly plotted, and excellently paced, leading the reader deeper and deeper into the story. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read it and offer an honest review.

Such a good book. Gives Freida McFadden vibes with multiple POVs. Checks a lot of my boxes and anytime I thought I had it figured out, just know I didn’t.

Thank you to St. Marten's Press for my copy of THE BUSINESS TRIP. This one is out Jan 14.

I read this is less than 24 hours and I have zero regrets about it. This clever, twisty thriller was so entertaining! Multiple POVs and a super fast-paced format was the perfect storm for me. I highly recommend this one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia
Get ready for a wild ride! Two strangers meet on a plane. Stephanie, a news director heading to a conference and Jasmine, a waitress fleeing from her abusive boyfriend to start a new life. All is well until their friends start to worry when they don't respond. Stephanie and Jasmine both text their friends stating they met a guy named Trent who turn out to have anger issues. Both women go missing and things don't add up. Definitely fast paced, easy to read, maybe a bit farfetched but entertaining. This one had me guessing what in the world was going on and trying to piece together the puzzle as things slowly unraveled. Multiple POVs, major twists, face paced domestic thriller. Thank you to @Netgalley and @StMartinsPress for the ARC ebook. Highly entertaining and suspenseful. Great debut novel for @jessiegarcia The Business Trip now out, also on #kindleunlimitied #book #thrillerbook #netgalley #stmartinspress #thebusinesstrip #noseinabook

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I so enjoyed this book! All I can say is WOW!!! The twists and turns in this book I never saw coming! I would definitely recommend this book.

A riveting thriller. Jasmine is escaping an abusive situation. Stephanie is heading to California to attend a work conference. They don’t know each other but end up sitting in the same row. They are in different situations but both send messages to friends saying they met someone named Trent McCarthy. Each chapter is told from different POV’s of people involved in the story. It can be the three I’ve listed, or co-workers or friends. The story moves along quickly with unexpected twists. There is a little backtracking as one person's POV may overlap with another. I don’t want to give any spoilers because half the fun is being surprised along the way. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ebook and I am leaving an honest review.

The Business Trip was a fast-paced and addicting read that was hard to know what was going on. I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives, which at times resulted in some repetitiveness as the same events were being told again, however I found that it did help reveal just a little bit more of what was happening. It was hard to know what to expect with a few twists along the way. The writing felt like it had more words than required at times and some aspects felt a little bit unbelievable, but the beginning had me hooked and I needed to see how things would wrap up.

Overall, I liked this one and rated it 3 to 3.5 stars. If you are looking for a fast paced psychological thriller with multiple twists and POVs, check out The Business Trip.

Thank you to Netgalley and St.Martin’s press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia was a story about two different women, Stephanie and Jasmine, who board the same flight, but for very different reasons. Once the plane lands, everything goes sideways, which is exactly what the author intends! What a great read, with lots of mystery and suspense. I very much enjoyed this read and look forward to future books by this author! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

There are some crazy twists & turns in this book! It starts off following the two main female characters, which I assumed was going to be the whole book. I was so wrong, in the best way possible! The many different viewpoints really let you enjoy the mystery. This has a Harlan Coben kind of vibe (which is a huge compliment) as he is one of the masters of characters secrets slowly being unveiled. This book will make you flip flop your feelings for certain characters, they are multifaceted & nothing is as it seems. There were some aspects I felt were a little undone at the ending but overall I’d say it’s a decent thriller.

✈️

Read if you like:
* Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
* The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
* Harlan Coben books

The premise of this book sounded really interesting. The start had me quickly turning the pages but as time went on, it got too far fetched at times. Towards the end, it was more so wanting to know how it wraps up, rather than being really invested in the story still. While I didn’t love it, I definitely liked it. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Pub day was 1/14/25 - it’s out now!

Two women, seemingly involved with the same man, disappear under mysterious circumstances. As friends and colleagues begin investigating, layer upon layer of shady behavior comes to light. And just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was another twist to throw my theory out the window. Very suspenseful!

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this copy of "The Business Trip."

This book keeps making the lists of 2025 most anticipated books and I can see why.

I couldn't believe that this is author Garcia's debut as a novelist - it was so cleverly and intricately plotted.

I thought I had some of it figured out, but the twist at the end was mind-blowing!

And I couldn't decide if I was rooting for Jasmine or not. I would have liked to see a little more of her inner rage - at times it seemed like it came out of nowhere.

But overall, very impressive and I can't wait to read more from author Garcia!

Kudos to Jessie Garcia for this well done fast paced
keeps you engaged debut! The Business Trip follows the story of two strangers, Stephanie and Jasmine, who meet on an airplane where lies, jealousy, desperation, and murder follows! This is told through multiple POV from various characters, which was really well done to help build the quick moving suspenseful plot. This moved along really quickly and definitely left you questioning how everything would play out... the twist at the end also came out of left field! Cant wait to read more from this author!
Thank you to NetGalley, Jessie Garcia and St Martin's Press for originally providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Business Trip is a captivating exploration of relationships, ambition, and the complexities of modern life. The story follows the protagonist as she navigates a work trip that quickly transforms into a journey of self-discovery
. Garcia’s writing is both relatable and poignant, capturing the nuances of personal and professional dilemmas. The characters are well-developed, and their interactions reveal deeper truths about love, career aspirations, and the choices we make. With a perfect blend of humor and introspection, this novel resonates with anyone who has ever faced the challenges of balancing work and personal life. It's an engaging read that leaves a lasting impression.

This is a solid popcorn thriller that keeps you guessing and wanting to figure out what exactly is going on. While it was twisty, nothing was super shocking or mind-blowing although fun. I was entertained the entire time and was genuinely curious about would happen next.

The Business Trip is a captivating and pulse-pounding debut thriller from author Jessie Garcia, offering a masterclass in tension, manipulation, and suspense. The novel opens with a seemingly innocent premise: two women, Stephanie and Jasmine, are on the same flight, but with vastly different reasons for being there. Stephanie is traveling for a business trip, while Jasmine is escaping an abusive relationship. What follows is a twisted tale that draws readers in and never lets go.

Garcia expertly builds the story around the mysterious Trent McCarthy, a man whose presence seems to loom over the two women in ways both subtle and alarming. As the narrative unfolds, we learn that Stephanie and Jasmine, despite having no initial connection, begin texting their friends the exact same messages—messages about Trent. But the tone shifts as the messages grow increasingly erratic and strange, leaving readers questioning the true nature of their experiences. Are they victims? Are they perpetrators? Or is there a far darker game at play?

The novel is a brilliant exercise in suspense, where the lines between victim and villain blur, and nothing is quite as it seems. Garcia’s writing is sharp and layered, with every page filled with questions, red herrings, and plot twists that keep the reader on edge. The mystery deepens with each passing chapter, as we are drawn into a high-stakes psychological game, where power dynamics, manipulation, and trust are central themes.

The tension peaks when both women disappear, leaving behind their strange messages and a trail of confusion. The plot spirals into a complex web of intrigue, with authorities and loved ones scrambling to understand what happened. Garcia does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing, never allowing the mystery to fully unravel until the final moments. The revelations are not just shocking, but deeply unsettling, forcing readers to reconsider everything they thought they knew about the story.

One of the most compelling aspects of The Business Trip is its exploration of psychological manipulation. Garcia delves deep into the human psyche, illustrating how easily someone can be influenced, controlled, and ultimately broken by a mastermind manipulator. The characters are flawed and real, and their motivations are not always clear, which only adds to the suspense and intrigue of the novel.

Ultimately, The Business Trip is a book that demands your attention from the first page to the last. With its compelling characters, intricate plot, and shocking twists, Jessie Garcia’s debut is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. It’s a story about trust, power, and the dangerous games people play—and it will keep you second-guessing until the very end.

Jessie Garcia is a great writer and I really enjoyed The Business Trip! If you're looking for something to read (maybe even on a business trip of your own) this is a good one!

This story had so many unexpected twists and turns that kept me intrigued. I liked how it had the story is told in different point of views.

With its attention-grabbing setup and its constant twists, The Business Trip makes for a gripping thriller—the kind that will keep readers guessing...and re-guessing...as it continues to shift its perspective. But while it’s an often riveting journey, readers may feel dissatisfied in the end.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

The Business Trip is an engrossing thriller by debut author Jessie Garcia. The story takes place over a short time period and has multiple narrators. It feels like a James Patterson story with the easy-to-read compelling story divided into short chapters.
The Business Trip begins in January in Madison, Wisconsin. 40ish Jasmine Littleton has had a hard life: abusive mother, living in her abusive boyfriend’s trailer, working at a bar, and no car. The only thing she has going for her is her looks and Anna, her lifelong best friend, who also works at the bar. Jasmine has been hiding money and waiting for the perfect opportunity to leave Glenn, her abusive boyfriend. Early one morning she gathers up her dirty laundry off the floor, stuffs it in Glenn’s suitcase, and sneaks outside to call an Uber to get a ride to the airport. She pays cash for a plane ticket to Denver.
45-year-old Stephanie Monroe is Jasmine’s opposite in life. Stephanie is the News Director at a Madison TV station, where she works very hard and earns a large salary. She is universally liked and respected by all of the staff because of her professionalism and dedication. She has been divorced for three years from Jason, and has a young adult son, Evan. Stephanie loves in a townhouse with her cat, and has a wonderful neighbor, Robert, who she regularly socializes with. Stephanie isn’t thrilled about being sent on another business trip, this time to a national conference in San Diego. She arranges for Robert to care for her cat while she is gone.
Jasmine sends Glenn a text to let him know that she will make him a nice steak for dinner, in an attempt to delay him finding out that she has left him. Once he comes home to an empty trailer, he immediately begins sending her nasty texts. Then he starts contacting her best friend and co-worker, Anna. Anna knew that Jasmine wanted to leave Glenn, but she had no idea when it would occur or what her plans were.
Stephanie send Robert a text saying that she has met a man at the conference and she will be traveling to his home in Atlanta to spend another week with him. This is so unlike Stephanie that Robert is alarmed. When she doesn’t show up to work on Monday, Bruce, her Assistant News Director, texts her and she tells him that she’s taking the week off. Bruce tells another employee, Nora, before notifying Dave, the station’s General Manager. When Lucy, another employee, texts Stephanie a joke and she doesn’t respond appropriately, Lucy sends a second message to test if it’s really Stephanie using her phone. Then Lucy, Nora, and Bruce go to Dave and beg him to call the Atlanta Police. Lucy and Robert travel to Atlanta together to visit the home where Stephanie is supposedly staying but encounter police working a crime scene.
Thew reader is left to figure out what is going on. Stephanie and Jasmine are the same age and blonde and were on the same flight from Madison to Denver. How did Jasmine encounter Trent McCarthy and wind up in Atlanta with him? Where are their bodies? How did both ladies get fooled by Trent’s sleazy slime ball personality?
I couldn’t put The Business Trip down! Each chapter has a different narrator, and the day is indicated at the beginning of each chapter, in order for the reader to keep the chronology straight. The story is engrossing, and the reader gets invested in the characters early on. This is a spectacular debut novel and I can absolutely see it being made into a movie. I highly recommend this book!!
I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.