I did love the twists and turns of this book. The ending was a little bleh for me. Overall it was definitely worth the read.

The Business Trip is a dark debut that follows two women - Stephanie and Jasmine - and what happens to them after a fateful flight.

This story was wild - broken into different parts, with numerous POV chapters from the entire cast of characters, you never quite know what you're about to read next. The timeline and POV swaps allow for the reader to experience the story in forward motion, then concurrently, then backtracking to reveal what we missed - and it just adds to the overall craziness of what the plot reveals.

Jessie Garcia has done a great job at giving the cast of characters a wide range of attributes and quirks that make you like some, hate others, root for a few, and ultimately never really know what's going on in the head of some. Her character development and depth is what made this novel stand out - I haven't read a thriller in awhile where the cast was so fully fleshed out.

Without giving away any of the plot, I can honestly say I haven't read a book like this before. The story unfolds over a few short days, and so much happens it kind of makes my head spin. I'll be keeping my eye out for her next novel for sure!

Reading in Between the Wines book review #125/130 for 2024:
Rating: 4 🍷🍷🍷🍷
Book: The Business Trip
Author: Jessie Garcia
RELEASES on January 14, 2025!!!

Sipping thoughts: There were a lot of characters, though, and I had to take notes to keep track of who was who, but that was only for a small part of the book. I love a good thriller and one that just feeds you piece by piece until you have the full picture. The Business Trip was twisty, bits of humor, and full of less than likable characters. I have to say, though, that I found myself rooting for the villain even though I did not want to. I know Garcia recently started writing fiction books, and I hope she continues to give us this level of thrillers.

Cheers and thank you to @Netgalley and @StMartinsPress for an advanced copy of @TheBusinessTrip.

#TheBusinessTrip #JessieGarcia #StMartinsPress #NetGalley #ARC #advancedreader #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

I struggle to review books like this because I do not want to give anything away. I will say that I was hooked from the beginning, loved the pacing and I highly recommend that you read this one!

We written character driven thriller told from multiple perspectives. Lots of unexpected twists and a well paced plot kept me reading almost straight through. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader copy.

The Business Trip had me hooked from the very beginning. This multi-POV domestic suspense follows Jasmine and Stephanie, two women who meet on a plane under very different circumstances—Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship, while Stephanie is on a routine work trip. Shortly after their meeting, their friends begin receiving strange, identical messages from them before both women suddenly vanish without a trace.

Despite the multiple perspectives, the storyline was easy to follow, and I loved the way the short chapters kept the pacing tight and suspenseful. The twists and turns had me constantly guessing, and the layered character development added to the intrigue. I especially enjoyed unraveling the mystery of Trent McCarthy and his connection to Jasmine and Stephanie.

That said, I did find myself wishing that the friends searching for Jasmine and Stephanie were a little sharper or more proactive. However, I can appreciate that their decisions were written intentionally to reflect their personalities and emotional states.

The ending was both expected and unexpected, which I loved. I had a hunch about how it would all wrap up, but I kept second-guessing myself along the way. When it turned out I was right, it still felt satisfying because of how the story kept me questioning until the very end. Jessie Garcia’s debut is a solid entry into the psychological thriller genre, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for her future work.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC. The Business Trip releases on January 14, 2025.

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia is a fast-paced thriller that had me hooked from the very first page! This book is a rollercoaster of suspense and intrigue, and once I started reading, I just couldn’t stop. The twists and turns kept me on my toes, and by the time I reached the halfway point, I was thinking, “Where could this story possibly go?” But Garcia pulled a masterstroke, taking the plot down an unexpected path that left me gasping.

One of the most impressive aspects of Garcia’s writing is how well she handles egomaniacs and narcissistic characters. The story is full of them, and each one is deliciously flawed, making them feel almost larger-than-life. These characters were compelling and, in some cases, downright insufferable—but that’s what made them so interesting!

The plot itself is unique, and Garcia's take on the genre felt fresh. However, as with many thrillers, the story is more plot-driven than character-driven. While I’m usually a fan of well-rounded, dynamic characters, I can understand that for thrillers, the focus is more on the suspenseful narrative, so it’s not a huge deal.

That said, there were some editing issues that could have been polished for better believability and these could have been caught with a more careful eye. As well, few plot points felt a bit farfetched. Still, this didn't detract from the experience.

Would I recommend this book? Yes! It is true to the genre and it is a unique story line. I’m already looking forward to Garcia’s next work!

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the digital arc copy and the opportunity to read and review this novel.

Instagram post link to follow after publication day.

I enjoyed this in the beginning. The plot was intriguing and I felt I could connect to the characters, and that is always important in a good book. There should be a main character that I like.

There were more than the normal amount of POV's. I couldn't even tell you how many at this point. The book does seem to have a chapter or so of just about everyone in the book. That was different, but for the most part, I was able to stay with who they all were. That could be an issue for some.

The part that I didn't like was how one character had an attitude that the world owed her, and I found it difficult to even care one bit about her anymore as her actions were over the top. Throw in a male with an attitude that he was better than anyone else and therefore could use people as he desired. While he was a jerk, I felt sorry for him because he didn't deserve all of what happened to him. This was when I started to feel as if the book wasn't for me anymore; I was sick of both of them. Like I said, you really need characters you care about.

I'd rate this three stars.

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia is about two women from Madison who are completely different from one another and are on an airplane bound for Denver, Colorado. Jasmine is a waitress and is escaping an abusive relationship. Stephanie is a news director for a local news station headed to a news conference. Friends and family of both women receive texts that they've met a man named Trent. Then, both women disappear. Panic starts to set in with loved ones. Who is Trent, and what has he done to them?

I'd like to thank NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) that they sent to me for free in exchange for my honest review. The synopsis of The Business Trip intrigued me, and I was excited to dive into the book.

The story hooked me from the very beginning. I was rooting for Jasmine to escape her boyfriend and live happily ever after. I was also rooting for Stephanie to find the happiness she was looking for. Then, the book took a very disturbing turn, and I ended up loathing Jasmine. The supporting characters are a mixed bag when it comes to likability. Trent, Raven, and Glenn are absolutely despicable for various reasons. However, Robert and Lucy are absolutely lovely; everyone needs people like them in their lives.

Jessie Garcia had me guessing through a good portion of the book as to both women's connection to Trent. The next big twist was if the culprit was going to get away with their plan and shocked the readers with yet another twist, albeit a bit of a far fetched one. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the story, but when I found out who the culprit was and what the character was doing, I spent the rest of the book feeling extremely anxious.

Overall, I really enjoyed this debut novel, The Business Trip, by Jessie Garcia. The expected publication date is January 14, 2025. Four out of five stars is what I rated it, and I look forward to seeing what other stories this author will write.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Business Trip, unfortunately, was not for me. The multiple POVs made it hard to connect with any character. I pushed through it just to finish it, but I just couldn't connect with it. I do recommend everyone to read it as my opinion will be different from others.

Talk about a wild ride! This book had so many twists, and I loved it.. The twists were something I did not see coming and they continued all the way to the end. I enjoyed all of the different perspectives that this book was told in. This book was brilliantly written and very enjoyable!

This book was pretty disappointing. The story was predictable, I didn't love any of the characters, and portions were just unbelievable. 3 stars.

I enjoyed this book and was excited to read a debut novel from someone with the same background as me: TV news. I will say I think the writer got a little unnecessarily descriiptive about the details of Stephanie's job as a news director, and at times it felt a bit amateurish. However, I really felt that I got to know the character of Jasmine very well, she was really well developed and truly I was completely surprised by the twist at the end. Well done! I could see this being a really good movie.

Jasmine is trying to escape an abusive relationship. Stephanie is being sent on another business trip. Both women would like to escape. They end up on the same flight to Denver. One is departing and the other is making a connecting flight. How do they end up in the same city and what will happen?
This is a book filled with the unexpected and hard to predict what will happen next. Jasmine definitely covets Stephanie's life. How far will she go to obtain it? This is an exciting read and will keep you turning the pages?

Thank you to #NetGalley, #JessieGarcia, and #StMartinsPress for a copy of this book.
#TheBusinessTrip

I wish I could give this book 10 stars because it was phenomenal. The twists were twisting, the narrators were *chef’s kiss”, and the writing was great. I loved everything about this story and the writing. I could not wait to finish this book and figure out what the heck was going on and read the whole thing in one sitting because I was simply obsessed.

The mystery drew me in right from the start. The beginning was rich with intrigue and carefully layered details, making me eager to piece together the clues. I was fully invested in the twists and turns, each development adding to the depth of the story.

By the time I reached the ending, though, something felt lacking. While the plot was wrapped up neatly, I couldn’t connect with the emotions of the characters in those final moments. Their reactions felt distant or underexplored, which made the conclusion less impactful than I had hoped. After such a strong start, the ending felt somewhat muted in comparison.

Still, the overall experience was enjoyable. The journey was filled with tension and clever reveals, and I appreciated the thoughtfulness behind the mystery. If the emotional depth of the ending had matched the strength of the beginning, it would have left a much stronger impression on me.

This book was not for me, it was hard to keep the plot and characters interesting to keep reading. I think some more editing could benefit this book.

Holy cow this book was amazing! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I think my jaw even hit the floor a couple of times. The pacing of this book was fantastic! Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

This book drags you right into the mystery. Two women meet on a plane. One is fleeing an abusive relationship and one is on yet another business trip. When they don't return or contact their loved ones, the suspense builds. The twists kept me reading and analyzing until long after bedtime. This author skillfully built the layers of this story, and wasn't at all predictable. The main characters ,Stephanie & Jasmine, were well crafted and realistic.
I don't want to say too much- read this book and enjoy.
Thanks to Net Galley & St Martin's Press , who always seem to combine to serve up great books. I had the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was quite the surprising debut thriller! Two women: one heading to a work conference, the other fleeing an abusive boyfriend, who both end up on the same plane. Soon though both are texting their friends about a new man they met. But then things take a turn and both women are missing. Is it what it seems or is something bigger at play. With Strangers on a Train vibes, this thriller was packed with twists and turns. I did a hybrid read of this (e-book and audio) and it was so entertaining! Full cast on the audiobook!! The last part of the novel was getting a little out there with the twists but again, it was very entertaining! Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies in exchange for an honest review. Pub Day is just around the corner on Jan 15th.