I had been in a bit of a reading slump and this book absolutely gripped me from the first few pages and I finished it in on day because of had to know what happened. This is an absolute five star read for me.

This book is about two women, Stephanie and Jasmine, who end up sitting next to each other on the same plane but have very different reasons for being there. A couple of days later they both disappear and their friends get similar texts about the same man named Trent. After their friend stop hearing from them it is determined that they may be in danger. Now the question is who is this man Trent and what happened to these women?

The story is told from multiple points of view so you truly get the full story from every angle. When I say that this story was wild, that is an understatement. The tweet says and turns in this one was insane. There was one point where I thought I had it all figured out but I was absolutely wrong.

The book blurb says that this is a debut novel and that is extremely impressive because this was one of the best books I’ve read this year. It cannot wait to see what other books this author writes.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love missing person novels so I was intrigued by this premise but unfortunately it’s so terrible I had to force myself to continue reading it after only the first couple of pages and I couldn’t make it more than a few chapters before giving up. The writing is mediocre and the characters are annoying. At first it’s mostly whiny Jasmine and her awful life followed by lonely and unappreciated Stephanie, neither of whom were interesting. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity but this was a no for me.

If you are looking for a quick and engaging read this is it. I devoured it in 2 days. The story is told in several different characters, which I think may be confusing for some but I liked it as it kept me interested. The plot and twists were a little "unrealistic" but after all this is fiction. It was entertaining and fun. Sometimes you need books like this to get you out of a reading slump.
I enjoyed it.

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

I received an advanced copy of the book *The Business Trip* by Jessica Garcia, courtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, in exchange for my honest review. This debut novel is a gripping psychological thriller that takes readers on a suspenseful journey through the lives of two women whose fates become intertwined on a seemingly ordinary flight. Stephanie, a TV executive heading to a conference in San Diego, and Jasmine, a woman escaping the clutches of an abusive relationship, find themselves seated next to each other.

The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives and a series of text messages, creating a dynamic reading experience that keeps you engaged. The initial setup is intriguing, as both women send identical messages to their friends about meeting a mysterious man named Trent McCarthy shortly after the flight. The reader is left guessing, trying to piece together the puzzle of what happened during the flight and the true nature of Trent McCarthy.

However, as the plot thickens, I found myself a little confused in parts and had to reread the last few chapters to fully grasp the twists and turns. While the complexity of the narrative can be overwhelming at times, it does keep you on your toes. Some readers may find it challenging to suspend disbelief, as the story escalates in complexity and stretches the limits of plausibility, which may leave some feeling disconnected from the characters' motivations and decisions.

Despite these challenges, *The Business Trip* is a promising debut that showcases Jessica Garcia's talent for storytelling. The suspenseful journey makes it a worthwhile book for fans of the genre. If you're looking for an book that will keep you guessing until the very end, this novel is certainly worth the trip.

This book had the potential to be amazing, and yet I was left feeling torn between significantly underwhelmed and being in a state of utter disbelief at the absurdity of what was going on throughout most of it.

To begin with, Jasmine, our main character is so completely unlikeable that I found myself secretly hoping that she would be caught the entire time. I just could not understand her motivation, doing what she did simply because other people seemed to be better off than she was? I get her, her boyfriend was a walking red flag she she needed to flee for her own safety, but why the elaborate scheme on top of the plan she already had? Why not simply head to Mexico right off the bat if that was her end-goal anyway? And if she really felt that strongly towards disliking Stephanie, her drivers license and two of her credits cards and done cash advances on them before Stephanie realized what had happened. Or at the very least, went on a spending spree overnight buying new clothing, food, etc before having to dip into the cash that she had to continue on her journey. The entire thing just seemed so over the top to me. And while I agree Trent was a piece of garbage, I don't feel like he needed to be brought into her drama, and again all because he represented something she didn't like.

Aside from the characters behaving ridiculously, the plot was also very unbelievable, and at times hard to follow. The reason I found it hard to follow was due to all of the different POVS ( at least ELEVEN different ones if I remember them all) that we have to wade through over the course of the novel. Not only do we see things from Jasmine and Stephanie's point of view, but also through that of friends of both women as well as Stephanie's co-workers. Add into that Jasmine's ex-boyfriend Glenn, the mysterious Trent and his boss and it became a lot to handle. And at first I got it - we needed those different points of view to get a look at what was going on since they were all getting different pieces of information. But then we get to the ending where Jasmine takes over as our narrator - and the book literally starts repeating everything we already know. Every little text that was sent over the course of the novel is repeated.

And then we get to that twist at the end - while yes was something I had not expected, was again so dang unbelievable that it was mind-blowing. I mean, seriously what are the odds on something like that actually happening in real life? Had it been up to me, I would have kept the twist (as unbelievable as it was), but gone a different route with it. After all, Jasmine spent so much time setting Trent up to take the fall, what would have happened had Stephanie's body been found back in California when she had supposedly been in Atlanta?

At the end of the day, I do think this book will appeal to other readers, it just wasn't the right fir for me.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

This debut novel is a fast paced thriller! We start the book learning about the lives of our two main characters Jasmine, and Stephanie. One is a poor woman living in a trailer with an abusive boyfriend, the other a high powered wealthy divorced woman. The two women have nothing in common, yet end up on the same flight and realize they look a lot alike. Then suddenly the women go missing and a man named Trent comes up as someone who has recently seen them both. From there we go on a journey trying to figure out who Trent is, where the women are, and what happened to them. The last 50% of the book was filled with so many crazy twists and turns that kept me guessing, and an ending I did not see coming. A great debut novel. I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

DNF @ 32%. The first chapter was really promising and stressful, but after that it was just very meh. The writing felt juvenile and all the various characters were written exactly the same. No thank you.

Overall I enjoyed this book, it was a fun and easy read. I liked getting to read the book from different characters perspectives especially at the beginning. I think it makes the book quicker and kept my focus. It was an ensemble cast of narrators which was enjoyable for me. Towards the end, I wasn’t a fan of Jasmine, I would have preferred to read the end from the perspective of the law enforcement officers on the case or from the Stephanie’s friends and coworkers. Overall I thought this book was original-never read another book with a premise like this one. I enjoyed it and would say it’s worth reading. I’ll look for more from this author.

CONTENT WARNING: emotional and physical abuse, rape, child emotional abuse and neglect, transphobia, misogyny, racism, sexual harassment, murder

This book caught my eye, and I was even more excited when I got approved for both the ebook and the audiobook. It allowed me to follow along in both formats, and switch off, depending on my surroundings. I love a good thriller, and I was curious to see what Garcia brought to the table with her debut novel. Since I’m on vacation, I read the audiobook more often than the ebook.

One of my favorite aspects of mystery/thrillers is how everything plays out and nothing is quite what it seems. There were some really great plot twists in the story, especially the last one, although I could definitely predict one twist way in advance. Knowing that one twist didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story, especially since there were more that totally blindsided me.

The book is broken into parts, and each part plays such an important role in the story. I loved the fact that the audiobook has full cast narration, since there’s a lot of characters to voice. It made it easier to keep track of each one, and it felt as though every event and interaction furthered the plot. As for pacing, it was consistent throughout the book, although there was more momentum towards the end of the book.

Initially, in Part 1, we are introduced to both Jasmine and Stephanie, two women who have a chance encounter that changes their lives. Jasmine is escaping a toxic and abusive relationship, while Stephanie basically has her life together as a news director of a local Wisconsin television station. Jasmine can’t help but be struck by the differences in their lives, and struggles to understand why she was dealt such a bad hand by life. Stephanie is heading to a business conference, when her life is suddenly derailed. Stephanie was easy to like, while Jasmine is a bit more on the morally gray side.

In Part 2, the perspective shifts to the people who are central to both Jasmine and Stephanie’s life and are directly impacted by their disappearance. We don’t hear anything from Jasmine or Stephanie directly, but we see the people closest to them getting texts and voice notes from Stephanie and Jasmine, with both saying that they met a wonderful man named Trent McCarthy, and are extending their trips. Jasmine’s abusive and controlling boyfriend and three friends that she trusts completely react to her messages. We also get to see Stephanie’s neighbor, coworkers, and boss, and how they respond to her not showing up to work. While some of Stephanie’s texts concern the people closest to her, the voice notes reassure them temporarily, until they also leave cause for concern, especially as Steph doesn’t return to work. This part sets up a lot of the action, with inconsistencies coming from both Steph and Jasmine, while no one actually knows what is happening with either of them.

There’s so much going on that I was constantly intrigued. Nothing is what it appears to be in the story, and while the evidence is stacking up pretty high against Trent, I knew it would be too easy to pin everything on him. I found myself wracking my brain to figure out who was the real baddie that murders both women in Atlanta, when neither of them had plans to travel there. Despite all my guesses, by the end of this section, I had no idea who it was, although Trent was certainly looking pretty shady.

In Part 3, we hear from Trent himself, along with two of Stephanie’s coworkers. Trent might be one of the biggest jerks I’ve had perspective chapters of, but by the time I finished this, I wasn’t so sure about my guesses. The last section is where everything gets clarified, and I was so hooked on the story that I couldn’t put it down. Everything speeds up and I was loving the roller coaster ride of the last part. There’s a huge plot twist that I absolutely didn’t see coming, although I was able to recognize that hints were being dropped all along.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable story, but it involved a lot more willing suspension of disbelief as the story got more and more involved and over the top. It didn’t bother me, because by the time the over the top elements came into play, I was already so hooked on the story that I had to find out what actually happened to these two women who coincidentally happened to cross paths. The writing and pacing were great, and although the characters ranged in terms of likability, with a good half of them leaning towards the unlikable side, I was still invested enough to put aside how much I disliked characters like Trent. For a debut, I thought it was done really well, and absolutely surprised me multiple times. I’d recommend this to readers who don’t mind over the top endings, mystery, suspense, multiple POV characters, and especially full cast audiobooks.

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book started out strong for me, the beginning hooked me right in but honestly I felt like there were too many characters points of view to keep track of during the story and I honestly think I would have liked it better without the twist at the end. I liked how raven sold out Jazmin but I thought it was a bit far fetched that Stephanie was still alive because she used a doppelgänger website and found an actress to impersonate her at her business trip so she didn’t have to go. It was just a bit outrageous for me and sort of ruined the ending. I think I would have liked it better if Jazmin was just sold out by raven and went to jail for that and the real Stephanie didn’t make it out alive.

Rounded up to 3.5 stars

Two women board a flight in the same city and disappear after they land in their final destinations. Both start sending strange texts to loved ones who all begin panicking. When a man is accused of murdering both, chaos ensues. Debut author Jessie Garcia explores the edges of audacity in her cheeky book The Business Trip.

Jasmine wants nothing more than to get away from her terrible boyfriend. After years of dealing with the beatings and the verbal and emotional abuse, she’s finally made a plan to get away. Jasmine is going to leave her dead-end job in Madison, Wisconsin, and make a new life in Colorado. She doesn’t exactly have solid plan, but that’s okay. Jasmine’s been relying on herself for a long time. She can do this.

In another part of Madison, news director Stephanie is gearing up for a big conference in California. Even though she appreciates her boss’s praise and the way the entire news team respects her, Stephanie desperately needs a break. Going to California might be a little bit of one, but she longs for the day when she can get away on her own.

The two women, strangers to each other, board the same flight out of town. Colorado is a layover on the way to California, and Stephanie and Jasmine meet on the plane. That’s the last anyone knows of their whereabouts for sure, because the women go missing. For a few days, there’s nothing but silence from both.

Then friends and families start receiving messages: both Stephanie and Jasmine claim to have met a man and are planning to go back to Atlanta with him. The texts take an even more bizarre turn when there are clear cries for help. After that, it’s radio silence once again until a man from Atlanta is actually arrested and charged with the murders of both Jasmine and Stephanie. Yet the case doesn’t seem as neat as all that, and even after the deaths the facts seem to be anything but straightforward.

Author Jessie Garcia takes readers through her first novel with a snarky, confident tone that suits Jasmine’s character in particular. Jasmine’s willingness to throw all common sense out the window when it suits her will make some readers cheer her on. Although Garcia gives both Jasmine and Stephanie individual chapters to share their stories, Jasmine is clearly the main character. Some readers may appreciate her devil-may-care attitude that leads her to take action that can, on occasion, be downright ridiculous. Others may not be as willing to go along with her recklessness. The plot twists are unexpected but fit the tone of the book. Those who don’t mind a dose of incredulity in their murder mysteries will enjoy this one.

First of all, I'll surely be looking into Ms. Garcia's future suspense reads but this one was disappointing. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC; the beginning hooked me in but the way the story wound around left me irritated.

Jasmine leaves her abusive boyfriend to start a new life and hopefully not be found by him. Ever. His character is written perfectly - he's truly awful. Meanwhile another woman, Stephanie, is leaving town for a work conference. The two will share a flight and what happens next is off kilter and really was a mess. It was QUITE messy and when it all ended up at the end, explained and put away, for the reader I was again, irritated. Book had great potential but the way it went was a misfire. I was hoping for so much more from this - read in one night!

If you’re looking for a fun book to binge, this one is a great choice! I binged the audio of The Business Trip (which is excellently captured by a full cast) over one evening. Thanks to Macmillan Audio, St Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for early access to this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

SYNOPSIS:
"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."

The Business Trip is split into four parts with many different POVs. However, I was never confused about whose perspective I was reading. From the start of part two, I knew I needed to keep reading until I found out what happened to the two individuals from part one (from their perspectives). The end had a twist I did not see coming, and while it is a little far-fetched, I was completely engaged in the story. Put this on your TBR for mid-January when it comes out!

This is a fast-paced novel with 2 female main characters boarding a plane at the same time. The writing tended to go a bit into the weeds regarding mundane details such as clothing. Unfortunately, that took away from the story and became boring. I think with some editing, this could be a fun beach read.

This book was unpredictable, clever, and absolutely thrilling from beginning to end! I had no clue what was even happening until about halfway through and I loved it!

Jasmine and Stephanie get on a plane. Jasmine is escaping her abusive boyfriend and Stephanie is traveling to San Diego to a conference for work. When their friends and family start receiving weird messages that they have met a man named Trent McCarthy and they have followed him to Atlanta, people start to get worried. Then, both women disappear.

This book was literally wild! I had no idea what was going or what was going to happen. The writing was clever and engaging. The ending was absolutely unbelievably shocking. Literally you will need to suspend some belief for the ending but still wild.

The only thing I didn’t get was the last chapter. I felt like it was unnecessary and unsatisfying.

I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

Whew this was a wild ride! It was an entertaining read if a little far-fetched. It was hard to know who to root for. Some parts a little repetitive as the new POVs were introduced.

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

This book was so much fun! We follow a cast of multiple people, however we start out with our two main POV's. One girl is trying to leave her abusive relationship and the other is just on her way to a business conference. These two happen to meet on the same flight, and oddly enough....they both end up missing.

The multiple POV"S made this one so fun and was such an interesting take on the story. I FLEW through each chapter as I could not wait to see what was going to happen. It was such a breath of fresh air in a thriller/mystery novel. Especially since I have been in a rut with these particular types of books.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my early e-arc review.

Wow! Not at all what I expected and I thought I had it al figured out. Two women from very different backgrounds meet on a plane. Twists and turns follow and what an ending! Great debut by Jessie Garcia. I look forward to other books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

I felt like the premise was so fun and it peeked my interest. Two ladies, boarding the same plane, one of them leaving behind an abusive relationship, the other a lonely successful woman on a business trip.
Eventually they start sending messages to their families where they talk about this guy they met and then, they both disappear.

The writing felt very simplistic, taking time to describe the outfits picked to the color that she is matching it to. In my opinion it needs some rephrasing and editing, it really loses people with the details. I didn’t care about the characters, their situation and it got boring.


If this same concept was used, but the book condensed I feel like it could be a page turner, but it needs work on the editorial side.

Thank you for the ARC, this is my honest opinion and feedback.

This book was one of the most cleverly written books I've had the good fortune to read.

This story starts with the readers meeting both Jasmine, who's escaping an abusive relationship, and Stephanie, who's newly divorced and headed to a work conference. As a trigger warning, domestic abuse is mentioned in this book. However, most are off-page and are not a central theme of the story.

This story is told from multiple POVs. We only see a small amount from Jasmine and Stephanie in the beginning, but the other chapters alternate between their friends and coworkers and what's happening as both women send strange texts, and eventually, disappear. I know this format won't be for everyone, but I found it refreshing and it made it easy to keep reading another chapter since the content was generally contained to that specific POV. It also reminded me much of a true crime show, where everyone is recounting their interactions with suspects and possible victims.

The story is definitely more plot-based. The character development isn't super in-depth and this is obviously because we're hearing the bulk of the story from the outsiders of the story.

The twist at the end of the story was not what I expected. I knew something had to be going on but this story twisted and turned in ways I wasn't even leaning towards. Did it seem entirely realistic? No, but it was thrilling and exciting.

This is a great debut and I'd recommend letting yourself get lost in the travel and twists with this one.