I could not put this down. Read it in an afternoon. One of the best thrillers I’ve read in awhile. I thought it was going to have a different twist but was shocked to see where it went. Can’t wait to see what this author writes next.

The Business Trip is a easy read that had me turning pages until the very end. This one is about what can happen on a business trip. The author wrote this well and this was so unpredictible with the twists in this read. I look forward to reading more from this author. The characters in this one were interesting. Overall, this was a read that I enjoyed and would recommend to any reader who likes thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this read in exchange of my honest review of The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia.

The Business Trip is a fast paced, addictive, head spinning thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. At first I was a little scared with all the character POV’s but in the end the author truly made it work. It added to the book and to the reading experience. This book was a non-stop adrenaline rush of wanting to know what is happening, what will happen and who did what. You will want to suspend disbelief a little but ultimately this was a great popcorn thriller.

The plot is intricately constructed leaving little crumbs here and there, but without revealing too much. I had thoughts, well Garcia threw them all out the window, she absolutely slapped me in the face with shocking twists and turns I never would have imagined. I have to commend the author on the cleverness of the plot. The suspense was constantly building, the pressure and the climax kept bubbling until it exploded. It was very juicy, crazy, unhinged and just so much fun!

Overall, this was a great popcorn thriller that kept my heart pounding from start to finish. The pacing for me was perfect, keeping me hooked and engaged. The shocking twists were just 👌 (maybe far fetched) but I loved them!

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @macmillanaudio, @stmartinspress & @jessiegarcia for my gifted ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The first words that came to mind while reading this are WHAT AM I READING? and CONVOLUTED.
Yes, convoluted is definitely a great word for this story. To be fair, I spent most of the first 2/3 of the book thinking I wasn't very fond of the writing, the characters (honestly they are all quite dislikeable-ALL of them except maybe Robert and even he was a bit judgy), the actual storyline. the last 1/3 (well actually the ending) brought this story from a 2 star to a 3.5 star for me. The tactics and the how it all came about really does require you to suspend ALL disbelief in order to get through the minutiae of the story. Did the author eventually bring things together? In a manner of speaking. Multiple POV's - some of which weren't really necessary - just adding on to the confusion. In any case, not a bad debut novel and it will appeal to those who like twisty winding roads and unlikeable characters.

THE BUSINESS TRIP
BY: JESSIE GARCIA

3.5 Stars.

I wish I had gotten this on Audio since I heard it was fantastic and most of the early reviewers said there were 10 district narrators and they all did an excellent job. I didn't think that I would have time to listen to it since the Publication Date was only six days away by the time I was done reading the ARC of this promising new debut Author, Jessie Garcia. "THE BUSINESS TRIP," seems like the perfect title for this, although I can think of a few others.

I could be wrong but I think that I read somewhere before finishing this wicked and devious debut novel that Jessie Garcia worked as a journalist at some time during her career and as the saying goes if your going to write a novel, write what you know. I have to say that I had a hard time getting invested in this story since the structure of this novel in the first 50% wasn't what I was expecting due to the synopsis. No offense to this author, but I found the sections in the beginning of this novel regarding the business of news, to slow down the suspense, until Lucy and Nora discover that something is off about Stephanie's text messages.

I was also disappointed that Stephanie had less of this narrative since the synopsis describes her and Jasmine meet on a plane and they both seemed to be the two protagonists that are the Main Female Character's. You do have to suspend disbelief, but like one other reviewer mentioned that what happens isn't beyond the realm of possibility.

I did find this was very repetitive especially during the second 50% mark.

I do think that overall this was a highly entertaining premise even though I did find a couple of the characters not merely unlikable but very repulsive. It's not that I don't enjoy mysteries & thrillers with unlikable characters, but I couldn't stand Trent. He is the same man that Stephanie and Jasmine who meet on a plane, due to their being in the same aisle seats both end up sending erratic texts messages to their friends that they both are involved with at the same time.

Stephanie and Jasmine had nothing in common. They meet on the plane and through their conversation Jasmine learns that Stephanie is divorced and is on her way to a conference in San Diego since she is the news director for an affiliate of the network CBS for Madison, Wisconsin. I guess they both have in common that they are both from Madison. Jasmine has escaped a really abusive relationship since she left during the night after crushing up black market sleeping pills and secretly has given them to her boyfriend without his knowledge. That gives her the opportunity to flee otherwise she wouldn't have been able to escape since he is beyond the pale of just being abusive. He is so controlling that he sold her car so that he can drive her back and forth to work, not allowing her any autonomy. She had been a waitress in a bar and one of her high school friends loaned her five hundred dollars and it took Jasmine a year to stash away a small portion of her tips since he is in charge of her money for "household expenses."

Even though these characters are way over the top this debut Author shows promising talent since this was still an intriguing story. It really added to a new sense of paranoia that gave me a wake up call about not being so trusting when meeting strangers. For that reason alone I applaud this author for her ingenuity about raising this awareness within me. I tend to think I can read people when I don't really know them, yet, seeing only the good in them in most cases. That theme alone is probably my biggest takeaway from this astute and promising debut Author, Jessie Garcia. I look forward to seeing what she writes next. This novel although I don't agree with the execution of it shows that she has a great imagination and wrote a unique novel that I think proves her to be innovative, and also amazing creativity on her part.

Publication Date: January 14, 2025

Thank you to Net Galley, Jessie Garcia and St. Martin's Press for generously providing me with my ARC, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheBusinessTrip #JessieGarcia #StMartinsPress #NetGalleyTHE BUSINESS TRIP
BY: JESSIE GARCIA

3.5 Stars.

I wish I had gotten this on Audio since I heard it was fantastic and most of the early reviewers said there were 10 district narrators and they all did an excellent job. I didn't think that I would have time to listen to it since the Publication Date was only six days away by the time I was done reading the ARC of this promising new debut Author, Jessie Garcia. "THE BUSINESS TRIP," seems like the perfect title for this, although I can think of a few others.

I could be wrong but I think that I read somewhere before finishing this wicked and devious debut novel that Jessie Garcia worked as a journalist at some time during her career and as the saying goes if your going to write a novel, write what you know. I have to say that I had a hard time getting invested in this story since the structure of this novel in the first 50% wasn't what I was expecting due to the synopsis. No offense to this author, but I found the sections in the beginning of this novel regarding the business of news, to slow down the suspense, until Lucy and Nora discover that something is off about Stephanie's text messages.

I was also disappointed that Stephanie had less of this narrative since the synopsis describes her and Jasmine meet on a plane and they both seemed to be the two protagonists that are the Main Female Character's. You do have to suspend disbelief, but like one other reviewer mentioned that what happens isn't beyond the realm of possibility.

I did find this was very repetitive especially during the second 50% mark.

I do think that overall this was a highly entertaining premise even though I did find a couple of the characters not merely unlikable but very repulsive. It's not that I don't enjoy mysteries & thrillers with unlikable characters, but I couldn't stand Trent. He is the same man that Stephanie and Jasmine who meet on a plane, due to their being in the same aisle seats both end up sending erratic texts messages to their friends that they both are involved with at the same time.

Stephanie and Jasmine had nothing in common. They meet on the plane and through their conversation Jasmine learns that Stephanie is divorced and is on her way to a conference in San Diego since she is the news director for an affiliate of the network CBS for Madison, Wisconsin. I guess they both have in common that they are both from Madison. Jasmine has escaped a really abusive relationship since she left during the night after crushing up black market sleeping pills and secretly has given them to her boyfriend without his knowledge. That gives her the opportunity to flee otherwise she wouldn't have been able to escape since he is beyond the pale of just being abusive. He is so controlling that he sold her car so that he can drive her back and forth to work, not allowing her any autonomy. She had been a waitress in a bar and one of her high school friends loaned her five hundred dollars and it took Jasmine a year to stash away a small portion of her tips since he is in charge of her money for "household expenses."

Even though these characters are way over the top this debut Author shows promising talent since this was still an intriguing story. It really added to a new sense of paranoia that gave me a wake up call about not being so trusting when meeting strangers. For that reason alone I applaud this author for her ingenuity about raising this awareness within me. I tend to think I can read people when I don't really know them, yet, seeing only the good in them in most cases. That theme alone is probably my biggest takeaway from this astute and promising debut Author, Jessie Garcia. I look forward to seeing what she writes next. This novel although I don't agree with the execution of it shows that she has a great imagination and wrote a unique novel that I think proves her to be innovative, and also amazing creativity on her part.

Publication Date: January 14, 2025

Thank you to Net Galley, Jessie Garcia and St. Martin's Press for generously providing me with my ARC, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheBusinessTrip #JessieGarcia #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia in exchange for an honest review.

WOW. Debut author Jessie Garcia delivers a propulsive nonstop ride with The Business Trip.

Two women get on a plane. Stephanie is a TV newsroom exec bound for a conference. Jasmine is running away from an abusive boyfriend. Both of them explain their prolonged absences to friends and colleagues by saying they’ve met a new man and are following their hearts. But, their communications are odd and they both name the same man. What’s going on?

If you’re looking for a thriller that keeps you guessing until nearly the last page, this book is for you. Four stars.

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia is a twisty domestic thriller that kept me guessing through the whole thing! The story is told from a variety of perspectives throughout the book, but the main two characters are Jasmine and Stephanie. Jasmine is escaping an abusive boyfriend and Stephanie is traveling for a work conference. There were several twists that I didn’t expect which is always a plus when I read any mystery/thriller. This was fast paced and will appeal to those who enjoy domestic thrillers such as Frieda McFadden books or The Last Mrs. Parrish.

I was rooting for Jasmine to make her escape, and wondering just where this story was going to go. I never would have guessed the twisted ideas she came up with, but certainly didn’t think she would actually get away with it. The more we learned about Jasmine, the more unlikable she became. I think this was intentional. The author did a really good job of making Trent unlikable as well. I was disappointed though that in the end, Stephanie wasn’t made more endearing. Regardless, the story was exciting and original - just would’ve preferred it had ended differently.

The plot is well-paced, with a mix of tension and lighter moments that kept me interested.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

There's no denying that "The Business Trip" by Jessie Garcia has its moments. Parts of the novel were fun and had a few thrilling twists, but overall, it wasn't the book for me. While the premise seemed exciting, the book felt like a rerun of a movie I've seen a hundred times before—predictable and just "ok."

One of my biggest struggles was with the characters. There were just too many chapters devoted to unnecessary viewpoints, and they felt inconsistent as the story went on. I often wondered why they mattered or were included. And the twists? Some readers might find them exciting, but I found them a bit bland and expected.

Every reader's experience is different. If the premise intrigues you, it might be worth picking up to see if it resonates more with you than it did with me. For me, "The Business Trip" wasn't a favorite, but I'd love to hear if it lands better for others. Let me know what you think if you give it a go!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A solid 4.5 stars for this debut thriller! The Business trip was the definition of popcorn thriller, hooking me in from the first few pages right through to the end. It was super fast paced and had me questioning the characters and their motives the whole way through.

The story focused on two women, Stephanie and Jasmine, who end up on the same plane - Stephanie heading out for a news work conference and Jasmine, escaping an abusive relationship. They really couldn't be more different. Yet somehow, they both end up in the same place and texting their friends back home about meeting the same man, Trent McCarthy. Soon, the texts start sounding strange and things aren't adding up to their friends and coworkers back home. Then, both women vanish. The alarm bells start blaring and the hunt for what happened to them and who exactly this Trent guy is begins.

This was such a good binge read! Was it mildly predictable and a little bit far fetched? Like a lot of thrillers, yes it was at times. But honestly, it totally worked! I was so thoroughly entertained, I could not put this one down and ended up finishing it in less than 24 hours. If you're looking for something super fast paced, with some clever twists and turns that keep going until the final few pages, this is one you should definitely pick up this year!

Thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy. Look for this one on shelves soon!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Whew! That's one word for this book!

Stephanie and Jasmine do not know each other; however, they get on the same flight that changes their lives forever.

Jasmine is running from her abusive partner and Stephanie is off on a business trip. After they land in the same city, they both start texting their friends about the same man they have met - and eventually they cease all contact.

Who is this man and what happened to the women??? Are they a victim of the same man, or does the man end up the victim?

There were several twists and turns in this story and I think I would have finished much quicker than the week it took me if it weren't the busy holiday season!

Highly recommend this book and look forward to more stories from this author!

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia is a masterfully plotted thriller that grabs hold from the first page and refuses to let go. This pulse-pounding debut weaves a chilling tale of deception, manipulation, and the eerie interconnectedness of two women’s fates.

Stephanie and Jasmine couldn’t be more different—one a professional jetting off for work, the other a desperate woman escaping her past. But their lives collide in unimaginable ways, bound together by mysterious, unsettling messages about the same man: Trent McCarthy. When both women vanish without a trace, the story spirals into a dark and twisted game where nothing is as it seems, and every revelation pulls the reader deeper into its web of suspense.

Garcia’s writing is sharp, immersive, and relentless, crafting characters you can’t help but root for while questioning their every move. The tension builds with each chapter, culminating in shocking twists that will leave you reeling. The dual perspectives of Stephanie and Jasmine create a gripping narrative, revealing layers of intrigue that blur the lines between victim and villain.

The Business Trip is more than just a thriller—it’s an electrifying exploration of trust, survival, and the devastating consequences of crossing the wrong person. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, this debut cements Jessie Garcia as a writer to watch. Buckle up—this is one journey you won’t forget.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press for providing this copy via NetGalley for a voluntary review.

#TheBusinessTrip #NetGalley

There are so many things going through my mind right now, after finishing this book, that I did not even know where to start writing my review. This is one of those times when I am so happy that I did not read the blurb before I read the book. Surprised does not even begin to describe this book starring individuals who seem to have nothing in common, but just you wait for the wicked surprises coming your way.

I was completely blown away when I realized the direction this book was going. Shock and awe do not even begin to describe how I feel.

This is apparently a debut novel for this author. I see a bright future in fiction for this writer.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley

okay, but what 🤯
at first I was hesitant because it seemed like there were so many peoples POV in this book and I didn’t think I’d be able to keep up. But there are 3 different parts to the story and it was fairly easy to keep track and enjoy.
the beginning to end was a wild ride and I loved every second of it. I struggled to put it down.

This gripping novel pulls off the rare feat of maintaining its strong momentum despite continually shifting narrative points of view. It’s a quick and compelling read enlivened with amusing and recognizable details about how people act (and interact) in professional settings. Some of the excessively bro-y characters must have been a blast to write, and they are juicily entertaining to read, but in adhering to basically every negative stereotype without the slightest redeeming quality they veer into the cartoonish. Maybe one of the appalling men in this story could have had at least been devoted to his dog or something? Some of the twists are telegraphed—probably on purpose to build anticipation—and others are darker than expected. Even the obvious ones are great fun to watch unfold.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital advance review copy.

Well, I didn't see that coming!! That was my thought throughout this book. There were so many twists and turns. Once you think you have it figured out something happens and you realize you did not figure it out. Two very different women, Stephanie and Jasmine meet on a plane. Stephanie is going to a conference for her job and Jasmine is escaping an abusive relationship. Stephanie is well off financially and Jasmine is poor. Jasmine wants what Stephanie has and decides to follow her. What happens next is mind boggling. They both text their people at home that they met an amazing guy named Trent McCarthy and were going to Atlanta so they could get to know each other better. Then both women disappear. Just who is this Trent McCarthy! But then again who is Stephanie and who is Jasmine. Such a great thriller. It comes out January 14th, 2025 and I suggest you pick it up and devour it.
Thanks to #netgalley, @stmartinspress and @jessiegarcia_author for an ARC of this great read. All comments are my own.

The Business Trip is a mystery novel filled with plot twists that’ll keep you guessing until literally the last page. We follow two women from vastly different points in life who serendipitously meet on a flight. Stephanie is a divorced mom and TV news director, headed to a conference in San Diego. Jasmine is a down-on-her-luck bartender, trying to run from an abusive boyfriend. They are on the same flight from Madison to Denver, with Stephanie continuing on to San Diego, and Jasmine continuing on her journey to hide from her boyfriend.
There are multiple narrators and multiple timelines, and it definitely took some concentration to keep everything straight in my head. The twists got crazier as the story progressed, but the plot itself started to drag in the middle. Then the side characters started to get more heavily involved, and the pacing started to pick back up.
All in all, this was an insane ride that kept me entertained. There were some rough patches, and the ending was right on the edge of being too ridiculous, but it was a great popcorn thriller!
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the free advanced copy and Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Wow what a trip this took me on. I really enjoyed the start of the book and even though there were 500 different POVs I kind of dug it. I liked getting inside everyone’s head. The middle of the book kind of dragged just a bit but the ending took me by surprise, especially the conclusion. The characters were very interesting, Trent was portrayed beautifully. I kind loved every minute of his portion. Overall, really good thriller, bingeworthy!

this story sucked me in and did not let go. the multiple povs and text messages gave us pieces and clues and made the story more engaging. the things that happened and the more that things are revealed you start to question more if these things ever even happened? the pacing was great which is always nice is a thriller/mystery because it helps to keep the reader focused and interested in the story. for a debut novel the author wrote a truly gripping story about two women that disappear after sending text to their friends about the same man.