So many emotions reading this book! This was a quick read for me, starting and finishing in one afternoon. It’s fast paced - there’s something going on from the first page to the last. The story is told in multiple viewpoints, but flows well and is easy to keep up with. As I got further along, I had mixed feelings about a couple characters and waited for their comeuppance, getting quit annoyed as I read more about them. The feelings didn’t last long, as the story ties up all loose ends by the last page,

Stephanie is a busy, divorced, working woman who travels frequently for work. Jasmine is an abused woman leaving town ready to start her new life. Seating together on the same flight, their lives are about to cross paths in a way no one saw coming. When both women vanish, can their friends and coworkers put together clues to find their whereabouts? And who is this mystery man, Trent, that they have both been messaging about?

The Business Trip:
The Business Trip is a twisty thriller with multiple POVs and surprising ending.
Stephanie and Jasmine are both on the same flight, Stephanie on a business trip and Jasmine fleeing an abusive relationship. When both women disappear, the red flags start flying, and things are just not adding up.
I really did like the multiple POVs. We hear from several different characters in this story, friends, coworkers, exes, and more. I often think when a book has multiple POVs it can make confusing and hard to keep track, but it definitely added to this story. There were lots of twists and turns and a bit of a surprising ending. I didn’t quite see that coming.
Now, my only complaint is the twist was a bit unbelievable. But, I think thriller fans will enjoy this book.
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Thank you netgalley and St. Martin’s press for the opportunity to read and rate this book. It releases January 14th

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy of THE BUSINESS TRIP by Jessie Garcia!

THE BUSINESS TRIP begins with two very different women. Jasmine is a young woman in a difficult relationship. As the book opens, she is sneaking out of her house and away from her abusive partner. Stephanie is a young woman with few connections in the world. Her job takes advantage of this and she's the one elected to go on yet another business trip. Both women wind up on the same plane in the same row in a coincidence that will change both of their lives. With both women suddenly MIA for the people in their life, people back home start getting strange text messages which open more and more questions.

This book had a really interesting structure. We get a lot of setup at the very beginning, following the POV of both women involved. From there the POVs open up much more as those back home start to realize something feels wrong. The story jumps back and forth in time for its reveals.

There were moments where I felt like the need to suspend disbelief got to be a little bit much, but I still was having a good time with it. The story did manage to bring some good surprise twists along the way as well!

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

The Business Trip is a thriller that intrigued me from the start with its unique concept and chilling premise. The story follows Stephanie, on a work trip, and Jasmine, fleeing an abusive relationship. The two women don’t know each other, but their lives collide in a bizarre and terrifying way. Both send identical, increasingly erratic text messages about the same man, Trent McCarthy, before they mysteriously disappear. What follows is a rollercoaster of twists, secrets, and manipulation that keeps you questioning everything.

I really loved the way the story unfolded from both Stephanie’s and Jasmine’s perspectives. It added so much depth to the mystery, and I found myself fully immersed in trying to figure out how their lives connected. The layers of deception and the “who’s playing who” dynamic made the book hard to put down.

That said, I did find some parts repetitive. It occasionally felt like I was reading the same scenes or dialogue again, which slowed things down a little. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did take me out of the story at times.

Still, the concept and twists more than made up for it. If you’re into psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, The Business Trip is definitely worth a read. It’s a wild ride with plenty of surprises along the way!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing an early digital copy!

The Business Trip is the debut novel from Jessie Garcia.

"Stephanie and Jasmine are on the same flight - sitting in the same row. They send friends cryptic text about the same man - Trent. But then they go silent. Where are they? Who is Trent? Has he done something to them?"

The story is told through the first-person POV of each character. There are dual timelines. The farther you move into the book, the more you realize just how jacked-up some of the characters are. Men are not treated well by Garcia. There are some terrible male characters here - a little stereotypical on being a dirtbag, but you probably know someone just like them.
When the reveals started, I couldn't believe what was going on - but again, jacked-up characters.
There's a crazy twist at the end that helped because it felt like Garcia was going to allow the ending to fizzle out, but she was just teasing us. I would have liked less man-bashing but luckily no Brads were harmed in the writing of this book.

Nice debut from Garcia.

This story follows two women who casually meet on a plane. The women lead completely different lives, one is an executive at a major news station, the other is fleeing an abusive relationship. The story had me wondering what was going on and where was it going. I don’t always like books where the chapters switch between characters, but this one caught my interest. There were a few twists in the story that come out of the blue. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

*The Missing Women* follows two women, Stephanie and Jasmine, who are on the same plane but lead very different lives—Stephanie is on a business trip, while Jasmine is escaping an abusive relationship. After a few days, both women send eerily similar, increasingly frantic text messages about a man named Trent McCarthy, before they both vanish without a trace. As the story unfolds, their disappearance raises the question: who is Trent, and what happened to these women?

The first half of the book left me intrigued but not fully invested; the pacing was slow, and I struggled to connect with the characters. However, in the second half, the story takes a major twist that completely hooked me. The suspense ramps up, and the shocking twists, especially the final one, completely caught me off guard. The plot was clever, the tension was gripping, and while the characters were unlikable, it only added to the intrigue. *The Missing Women* ended up being a twisty, suspenseful read that I couldn’t put down.

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

💼Book Review💼
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Summary- 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. After a few days, they text their friends the same exact messages about the same man—the messages becoming stranger and more erratic.

And then the two women vanish. The texts go silent, the red flags go up, and the panic sets in. When Stephanie and Jasmine are each declared missing and in danger, it begs the questions: Who is Trent McCarthy? What did he do to these women— or what did they do to him?

Twist upon twist, layer upon layer, where nothing is as it seems, The Business Trip takes you on a descent into the depths of a mastermind manipulator. But who is playing who?
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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My thoughts- thank you so much @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the advanced Audio arc, this one comes out on 1/14. Be sure to grab it where books are sold then, this was a super impressive debut. I loved the premise and how this was told, it was a full cast audio and expertly done. I enjoyed this one but the ending was kind of unbelievable. Overall a super solid enjoyable thriller with a crazy premise, I’m looking forward to reading any future books by her!
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QOTD- what are you currently reading ? My current read is A Winter Wish
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2.5 STARS - This book started off strong. I loved the tension and the mystery and how the author successfully incorporated so many POVs that tell the story of two women and how their lives become entangled when they meet on a flight.

The promising premise had me glued to the pages for the first half of the book. There were great twists, solid tension and a character readers will love to hate - even if he is a caricature of a bad guy. But after the midway point, a lot of page time is spent repeating conversations the reader has already read and at this point, the story requires the reader to suspend disbelief far outside my comfort zone. A few scenes progress into the realm of ridiculous - with some actions being physically impossible (ie. suitcase) and these scenes left me irritated.

The final 'reveal' was even more far-fetched, cementing my not so positive feelings for this book that started off so strongly.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to St Martin's Press for the advanced digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

O.M.G.! This is such a 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘇𝘇𝘇𝘇𝘆 psychological rollercoaster, and I completely loved it!
This is Jessie's debut novel, and in my opinion, she knocked it out of the park.

I listened to the audiobook, and it definitely raised the bar. It was beyond excellent with a 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 cast of narrators. Ten of them! One for each character, which elevated the whole story.
It was so damn entertaining that I cleaned my whole house from top to bottom just so I could keep listening

The chapters are well defined in the audiobook, so you're never guessing or rewinding. It's very easy to follow along and to know who is speaking.

The plot is fast-paced and clever. The twists are jaw-dropping and devious, and the characterization is on point. Unpredictable, unputdownable.
An impressive whodunit that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Pick this up on January 14, 2024

My sincere thanks to Netgally, Saint Martin's Press, and Jessie Garcia for my advanced copy. My review was voluntary.

This thriller wasn’t really for me. It was good writing and easy reading, but I found the story line so shallow. Lots of repetitiveness and the big twist was just too unrealistic and not thought through .. Sorry, personally I just wasn’t a fan

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia was a shockinly good read that twisted and turned without giving away the full story until the very end.

There is an ever expanding list of point of view characters as the book goes on, but surprisingly it didn't become too overwhelming. In fact, as I'm sure was intended, it just added to the story and the mystery behind the two women who have seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth in similar circumstances. The different points of view act as an ever-expanding look into the two women's lives and how their disappearance is having a snowball effect on those others, as well as giving insight into the things these people know or see from Jasmine or Stephanie, particularly in interactions.

As the multiple POV's delve into investigations into these women the story becomes even more interesting. It leaves so many questions of what happened to each woman, and why they have so many similarities in their disappearances though seemingly no ties. This honestly kept me guessing with every turn of the page and I was so invested in the outcome and in finding out what was going on with all of the tantalizing hints.

I can't say all of the characters were likeable because some were downright repulsive with the things they did or in the ways they acted, but the fact that they engendered such strong feelings in me was a testament to how well written and real they were. Not to mention the fact that I sometimes find too many points of view to be overwhelming, particularly in shorter, standalone books, but I never felt that way and it worked so well for the story as far as keeping everything a mystery right until the end.

And I actually found myself surprised at the end. This doesn't often happen for me, as usually I find mysteries/thrillers can be quite apparent as to where they are going to end up, but I was well and truly surprised by the end. This is a definite book to pick up and I very much recommend it. I can't wait for more from the author.

"The Business Trip" is a popcorn thriller that you will not want to put down and will keep you up late at night turning the pages. The first chapter alone had my heart absolutely racing. I was hooked and did not want to stop reading. From there, the POVs changed often, with new characters being introduced and new information being revealed. I typically don't like when there are too many characters, but each character added something important to the story. I think a couple could have been eliminated or maybe even combined, but overall I didn't find it too confusing with so many characters. There were definitely a lot of twists and turns that I did not see coming. The ending was a true jaw-dropper, and if you are able to suspend disbelief, then you'll really enjoy it. I did think the epilogue was a bit unnecessary and would have preferred that it end with the final chapter. Overall a pulse-pounding, unputdownable thriller, and an impressive debut from Jessie Garcia.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wiliam Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Multiple POVs. Whirlwind suspense. Page turning thriller. What exactly happened to the two women that sat next to each other on a plane? One to attend a work conference and one to flee from their abusive relationship. Only for both of them to disappear days later. It's non-stop action, with clues dropping every which way that will keep you on your toes.

The Business Trip is the story of 2 women and their lives literally colliding on a plane to Denver. Then everything turns upside down and they both disappear after meeting a man. To outsiders, they go missing. But what really happened and who can we believe? It's a total web of deception.

Jasmine and Stephanie lead the way telling their stories with POVs also coming from their friends and colleagues in addition to text exchanges between the two women and their friends after the flight. You might think with so many characters that things could become messy. But Garcia alternated parts and chapters for each character, making the storyline easy to follow and easily distinguishing each character from the next.

I think having so many characters and clues along the way gives you a sense of urgency to figure out what truly is happening. Many aspects of the story are far fetched, but I was entertained nonetheless. I couldn't put the book or audiobook down. It's a story that I totally consumed and I had to know what REALLY happened. This is what I like to call a 'popcorn thriller' that is all about keeping me engaged, whether I liked the characters or not. I was invested. And that ending? Well, I did not see that twist coming, but what a frickin roller coaster ride it was and I have to applaud this debut author for keeping my attention from beginning to end with no lulls.

Overall, I would give the story 3.5 stars, but add in the audiobook and it's a solid 4 star read/listen. Those narrators brought the story to life and kept me excited and looking forward to what would happen next, even if it was unbelievable at times.

Whew. What a wild ride! Thanks Netgalley for this early copy of The Business Trip. This is the story of two women who would like to escape their lives. Jasmine and Stephanie. The story begins with Jasmine sneaking away from her abusive boyfriend to fly across the country. She meets Stephanie on her flight and boy, does chaos ensue. I won’t say much more for fear of spoiling anything but just hang on to your seats! I will say the book started out really great and then kind of sagged a bit in the middle, but then picked up again in the latter part. There was a little more “telling me” than “showing me” than I would have liked l. For instance Trent’s character was a bit over the top when it came to the make chauvinist pig stereotype. But overall I got past that and the book kept me entertained to the point of staying up past my bedtime to see what would happen next.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jasmine and Stephanie are two women in very different circumstances who end up sitting next to each other on a flight by chance. They both meet a man named Trent and then vanish. Who is Trent? Who are Jasmine and Stephanie for that matter? Where did they go? What secrets are these three hiding?

There was thought-provoking commentary throughout The Business Trip. The plot was very intriguing and I flew through this book because I simply needed to know what happened to Jasmine and Stephanie. I liked that there were a lot of perspectives and thought the different side characters piecing together what they knew individually added to the fun. However, there were actually so many characters that some of them were hard to distinguish between. Ultimately, my main issue with this novel was that the writing wasn't my cup of tea. It felt very clunky and a bit simplistic. That being said, I think the number of twists and strength of the mystery counteract my personal issues with the writing and I definitely believe there is an audience for this book. For example, I think fans of Freida McFadden will really enjoy this one.

Jessie Garcia’s The Business Trip has an intriguing concept and storyline that initially captivates, but the execution falls short. The characters are flat and predictable, lacking the depth needed to sustain interest. The ending while unexpected is absurd. Despite its potential, the book misses the mark with underdeveloped characters and an unsatisfying conclusion.

"The Business Trip" by Jessie Garcia is a strong debut and a thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Two women who could not be more different meet on plane. Soon they both send messages to friends about a mystery man, before just vanishing all together. One is on a business trip and one is fleeing an abusive relationship. Their paths crossing by chance leads to their lives changing forever.

The second half of the book really leans into the suspense and keeps you wanting to turn the page to find out the truth. There were several twists and turns. I was genuinely surprised at the final twist though and know readers will be too.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for gifting me this ARC. I enjoyed it.

This is rating is rounded up. I’d give this novel a 2.5-2.75 stars.

Two women, Jasmine and Stephanie, find themselves on the same plane both running from something or someone. One business trip turns out to be life altering.

Jasmine started out as a character that gained my sympathy, but she became someone that I couldn’t stand. Her world view and victim mentality caused her to completely self centered. Also there were so much that unfolded that was hard to believe it was planned on the spot…no pre-meditation?

Lastly, I felt the ending could have used a bit more attention. It was a quick read and was intriguing enough for me to continue to the end. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for an ARC for my honest review.

THE BUSINESS TRIP
Jessie Garcia

Sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side. Sometimes your life is the last one you want to be living. And taking a chance is your last resort.

Jasmine no longer wants to be in her shoes.

She’s in an abusive relationship and she is at the end of her rope. Glen, her partner has gone from being a nice guy to being someone she’s afraid of, someone she despises. She’s been planning to leave for months. Tucking away part of her tip money. Ones and fives, nothing bigger than a ten. It’s taken a while, but with the help of friends, she finally has enough to leave, and never come back. She will leave this weekend, God willing.

Stephanie is at the end of her rope as well.

But for very different reasons. She finds her life to be mediocre and barely worth living. She struggles to find the inspiration to get out of bed every morning to go to her uninspiring job. She is divorced, and her son hardly answers her calls and takes her for granted. She’s unsure which is worse. She’s headed on another business trip this weekend. She has been sent on far too many recently and the hotel life is not for her.

They end up on the same plane sitting next to each other. Days later they each send a text to their friends saying they met a man, a man named Trent. As more days go by, their texts and descriptions of Trent become alarming and confusing.

Who is Trent?

When each of the women end up missing, Trent becomes the first one people want to talk to. How does he know each of the women, and what does he have to do with their disappearances?

OK. How do I say this without giving anything away?

You could call THE BUSINESS TRIP unbelievable, and I would agree. You could call it basic, and I’d nod my head in affirmation. You could call it a horrible way to waste an afternoon and I wouldn’t argue.

To keep it simple THE BUSINESS TRIP is too similar to what is already on the market. And the only things that make it different are also what makes it ridiculous.

I’m not asking for a lot when I sit down to read a thriller. I am asking to be entertained. I am asking for the story to make sense, and when I’m feeling needy, I ask for the twist to be twisty, the characters to be dark, and the storyline to be unique.

Sometimes even when you have all of that, it can still go very, very wrong. That was the case with THE BUSINESS TRIP.

I’m sorry this one didn’t work for me.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies!

THE BUSINESS TRIP…⭐️⭐️