Oh Jessie Garcia - how did I just discover you?! I was drawn in from the start! Personally, I like books told from a couple of different narrators. Was not expecting to binge this but I could not put it down. So many little twists and turns regarding Stephanie and Jasmine's stories after they board the same flight. This one kept me on my seat until the end.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the copy of this book an exchange for an honest review.

The Business Trip
by Jessie Garcia
Mystery Thriller
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Jan 14, 2025
St. Martin's Press
Ages: 18+

Stephanie and Jasmine meet on a plane: Stephanie is on her way to a conference, and Jasmine is running from her abusive boyfriend. Near the end of the conference, Stephanie sends a text to her friend telling him that she met a guy and is going to his place. Jasmine's friend gets a similar text naming the same man, Trent McCarthy.

But a few days later those friends receive worrying texts hinting that Trent may not be that great of a guy.


The blurb makes it sound as if this is a major mystery but in reality, it's not. Sure there is a twist at the end, which I didn't care much for, but most everything else is explained as it happens, taking away the mystery and suspense.

FYI: the reader needs to pay close attention to the chapter headings as this book is in first person and there are multiple (6?) characters telling the story from their perspective.

The main characters, Stephanie and especially Jasmine are well thought out and very complex as is the plot. The author had to have spent months mapping out this story!

But even though it was a good story and a quick read, the blurb and the actual story don't really match up, and maybe because of that is why I feel that there was a layer of the plot and characters missing.

Because there is violence and some adult situations/language this book is only suitable for readers eighteen and older.

3 Stars

What a fun, thrilling read! Lately, thrillers have been so obvious and I thought I had this entire thing figured out, but boy was I wrong. And I'm so glad. I thought this would be like Strangers on a Train but I was pleasantly surprised. I don't want to spoil anything, but definitely add this to your 2025 TBR.

the writing for this book was great and kept me invested the entire way, however the twists in the last 15-20% of the book was just too far out there and unbelievable. Jasmine’s POV from 50-80% of the book was just a little too long but i think that fed well into the twist. It was a fun fast read, 3 stars solid

Okay, if you’re looking for your next domestic thriller, this was so good!

Stephanie and Jasmine have nothing and everything in common. The two women don’t know each other but are on the same plane. Stephanie is on a business trip and Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. A few days after the flight, both women vanish after apparently meeting the same man. They stayed in contact with friends sending the same exact messages about the same exact man but as the texts become more alarming and then silent..panic sets in.

The beginning is a little bit of a slow burn while you’re putting the pieces together and really learning who the characters are. I listened and physically read this book and the audiobook really made it easy to follow along. There are a lot of characters in the beginning and the audiobook is narrated by a full cast. Each character is voiced by a different narrator and I absolutely love that.

The chapters are each a different POV and they’re short and sweet and left me dying to know more. Everything about this book was binge worthy and addicting. You can easily read this in one day.

The twists are over the top in the best way. They’re layered and clever and I had the best time thinking I knew what was going to happen and ultimately finding out I was so wrong. 😂

Such an excellent debut from Jessie Garcia, highly recommend! The Business Trip is out so soon, 1/14!

Thank you @macmillan.audio for this advanced listening copy and @netgalley @stmartinspress for the advanced reading copy 🤍 #macaudio2024
.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC. Publication date is January 14, 2025. This was a mediocre read for me. Two women who don’t know each other end up on the same flight. Stephanie is on a business trip and Jasmine is escaping an abusive relationship. Friends of the women receive the same text messages regarding Trent McCarthy. Shortly there after the women are missing and that’s when the story goes down the rabbit hole. I have a hard time with unbelievable plot twists, so this didn’t really work for me.

Jessie Garcia’s The Business Trip is a dark and riveting tale that takes readers on an unexpected journey through deception, justice, and the consequences of toxic behavior. The story begins with an air of mystery as a woman on a business trip appears to go missing, leaving those close to her scrambling to uncover the truth. From there, the twists come fast and furious, creating a narrative that is as unpredictable as it is engaging.

One of the highlights of the book is the way Garcia crafts her characters, particularly Trent. His arrogance and poor treatment of others set the stage for a powerful reckoning that feels both satisfying and inevitable. Watching Trent face the consequences of his actions adds a layer of catharsis to the story, making his arc one of the most memorable aspects of the book.

The twists in The Business Trip are expertly placed, ensuring the reader is constantly guessing. Garcia’s writing is sharp and focused, making even the most shocking moments feel well-earned. The pacing keeps the tension high, and the balance between the psychological and suspenseful elements ensures the story never loses momentum.

Overall, The Business Trip is a masterfully written thriller that delivers on both its twists and its character-driven drama. Jessie Garcia has created a story that is not only compelling but also deeply satisfying in its exploration of justice and the unexpected turns life can take. A must-read for fans of intense psychological thrillers.

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia adds new meaning to a business trip. Imagine being sent to a conference by your boss. Then imagine all the different things that can happen on the trip.. Then imagine the impossible and even then this book will knock your socks off with the twists and turns.

Stephanie is heading to Dan Diego for a conference for TV producers. She meets Jasmine on the plane. Jasmine is leaving an abusive relationship and is determined to live another life without ever falling into the trap again of being at the mercy of a man. They both depart the plane and head into their lives, only suddenly mysterious messages start showing up to their friends and no one is sure where they are. The messages mention a mysterious man named Trent McCarthy and then the reader meets the fellow and the twists start happening.

This book falls under the Oh My… Then what happened… I can’t stop reading… But you can’t stop reading, because….

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia is a thriller like no other I remember. I was quite frankly unable to imagine all that happened or was going to happen… What a great read!!!

Two women with nothing in common who don't know each other meet on a flight. Then after a few days, their friends start to receive texts that sound very similar and reference the same man. And then they are both gone. Who is the man they are both referencing and what happened once they landed in Atlanta?

Ok. So this was pretty amazing all the way through and then the twist at the end really threw me. I didn't see it coming (which is the point, I'm aware!) but also, I've felt very conflicted about it ever since. I'm still giving this 4 stars because I really did enjoy it and would read this author again.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia. Jasmine leaves her abusive boyfriend in the middle of the night, and gets on a plane to Denver with no real plan except to get away unscathed. On the plane, she meets another woman, a successful television producer on her way to a conference. Then, things start to get strange. The book switches to hearing about the women from other’s points of view, and it seems like they both may be in trouble. A man at the conference, Trent McCarthy seems to be the villain, but what is really happening? There were a lot of plot twists, and the ending surprised me. Good mystery, definitely kept me reading and guessing. #thebusinesstrip #advancedreadercopy #jessiegarcia #bookstagram #netgalley #debutfiction #lovetoread #readersofinstagram #takeapagefrommybook #mystery #domesticabuse

Wowww such a thriller! I flew through the pages. I bet this one ends up popular! Highly recommend for someone looking for a quick, intriguing read.

"It bothered me that he had called me "Steph" twice already as if we were old friends."

As a Stephanie, I feel like in my soul - lol

This book was not it at all. I loved the premise of "The Business Trip" but unfortunately, everything about this novel feel flat for me. Not only were there numerous plot holes, but the characters were also unlikeable and lacking interesting storylines. I felt like most of the dialogue was forced and awkward. Additionally, there were moments when a character went on and on and on and on with information that was very much unnecessary to the overall story. One more complaint while I'm on a roll -- I think there are 5-6 too many characters, especially since they didn't add any true to the overall plot of the book.

While this book wasn't for me, I am certain there are readers out there that will enjoy this popcorn thriler.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 341 / Genre: Psychological Thriller
Audiobook Narrators: Andrew Eiden, Dylan Fitzpatrick, Fred Berman, Gail Shalan, Hillary Huber, Jennifer Pickens, John Pirhalla, Kimberly M. Wetherell, Kirby Heyborne, Tim Campbell
Duration: 9 hours 7 minutes
Release Date: January 14, 2025

Jasmine has finally decided to leave her abusive boyfriend and is on the run. Stephanie is a news manager for a local TV station and is on a business trip. The two meet on a connecting flight and nothing is the same again from that moment on.

I can’t even say more than that because so many unexpected twisty things happen in this thriller, I don’t want to ruin any of them for you. Is it all believable? No, of course not, it’s too crazy and wild and I loved every moment! Never a dull moment to be sure.

This fast, bingeble read is even better on audio with a full cast of narrators. This book comes out January 14, 2025, so be sure to add it to your TBR.

Thank you, @JessieGarcia_Author, @Macmillan.Audio, @StMartinsPress, and @NetGalley for my free copies. I loved it!

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4⭐️
THE BUSINESS TRIP
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: mystery/thriller
📖 352 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: ✈️🎥😱🏙️💊🔫🐈💬🚔👀🧳🇲🇽
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 1/14/2025

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ multiple POV
◽️ twists galore
◽️ multiple timeline
◽️ clever & suspense

🩵𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲🩵

Thank you @stmartinspress @netgalley @macmillianaudio for the #gifted copy!

What an outstanding debut! This book captivated me from start to finish with its clever storytelling & gripping plot. The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, with timelines that alternate between past & present, offering fascinating insights into the events from various characters’ POV.

The intricate plotting kept me on my toes—I couldn’t predict how the storylines would connect, & none of my guesses were right! While the cast of characters is large, each one is distinct & easy to follow, adding complexity to the story. The twists were plentiful, & the conclusion was incredibly satisfying, tying everything together beautifully.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves a well-crafted, surprising read. It left me eager to see what the author will deliver next!

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Stephanie & Jasmine are strangers who meet on the same flight. Stephanie is traveling for work, while Jasmine is escaping an abusive relationship. Days later, they each send their friends eerily similar & increasingly bizarre texts about a man named Trent McCarthy. Then, both women disappear without explanation, triggering widespread alarm. As they are declared missing & in danger, the mystery deepens: who is Trent McCarthy, & what really happened?

Wow, what a wild ride! This book was fast-paced, dark and shocking. A true popcorn thriller that I couldn’t put down and kept me reading late into the night. I was extremely hooked in the beginning, waiting for more of Jasmine’s story to unfold and intrigued when Stephanie and Jasmine cross paths. I don’t want to say too much but the storyline was clever and twisty with great character development. While I enjoyed the story overall, the ending was a bit far fetched and I was hoping for more of a cliffhanger.

eived an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This story begins with Jasmine who is in an abusive relationship with Glenn. She is making her escape by slipping out while Glenn is asleep. She has made plans to fly to Denver. The story then shifts to Stephanie who is preparing to attend a conference in San Diego and she winds up on the same flight as Jasmine and is seated next to her on the plan.

Stephanie arrives in San Diego and it follows her as she attends the conference where she meets Trent. Trent thinks he is a big cheese and tries to get Stephanie's attention. Stephanie wants nothing to do with him. As it turns out, Jasmine followed Stephanie to San Diego and plans o steal Stephanie's identity. Once Jasmine puts her plan in place, she gets all sorts of emails from Stephennie's business associates as well as Stephanie's cat sitter and neighbor, Robert.

Jasmine's plan involves Trent and she follows him to Atlanta where she plants evidence that will place the blame on Trent. Jasmine enlists help from her friend Raven and has everything worked out. Trent has been arrested and Jasmine is now on her way out of the country.

To discover what Jasmine's plan entailed, what role Robert plays, how Raven comes into the picture as well as what happens in the end, then you need to read this book. The ending is one that you wouldn't expect.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Publishers for an advanced reader copy of The Business Trip in exchange for my honest review.

👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

What a great debut psychological thriller! I couldn't stop reading to figure out what the heck was going on.

Can't wait for more from Jessie Garcia!

A riveting thriller about two women, strangers on the same plane, disappear after sending texts to their friends about the same man. Did the man do something to them? Or did they do something to him? I love the multiple POVs within this read and it is completely clear there is something going on and things are not as they seem. I thoroughly loved the mind f*** series so I feel that may be why I enjoyed this one as well, some may say it is far fetched but I liked it. The characters aren't exactly very likable but I found myself rooting for them anyway. The pacing was great and I demolished this in two sittings.

Good mystery

This was an interesting mystery. I started out feeling sorry for Jasmine and rooting for her. Stephanie has a good job, all the trappings of a successful woman, but she has her secrets as well. When the two of them are seated together on a plane, a plot starts to emerge.

I was in the story from the beginning, thought I had it figured out at 40%, which kind of slowed the rest down from there, until around 92% when it all falls apart again. I would definitely read another book by this author.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

This is a debut domestic thriller with a couple of unique twists. The story follows two female leads, Jasmine who is attempting to leave her abusive boyfriend, and Stephanie, who is traveling for a business trip to San Diego. When the women end up missing, the mystery unfolds through multiple points of view as we hear from neighbors, friends, the abusive boyfriend, and the two women themselves. While the overall mystery started out intriguing, the writing itself was way too much telling rather than showing and several parts of the story were pretty far fetched. Besides the first chapter, the lead in to the action was very slow. The way the story was told through the multiple POV started out interesting but then became repetitive towards the middle. The twist at the end was farther but at least it was unexpected. Overall, this was a fairly quick read for those who enjoy popcorn thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.