Even though I’m sure this story is highly implausible, I still really enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down.

I was shocked on the last twist. I really didn’t see that one coming.

I loved the different POVs and I found the characters all pretty interesting. Jasmine’s backstory is was pretty good. I know she is pretty much the antagonist, I still somehow rooted for her and found her to almost be an anti-hero. I definitely don’t condone any of her actions and I am happy how things turned out, the author just did a great job on creating empathy for a terrible person.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

That feeling you get when you want to like the bad guy be cause you get it but then it just keeps twisting... loved this book. The writing style is great. The multiple narrarators was perfect as well. Can't wait for more from this author.

I actually did not finish this book. I loved the narrator's voice and the story might have been worth the listen, but I didn't check trigger warnings before diving into this book and I found it too hard to read.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: Two women with seemingly unrelated lives cross paths on a flight, only to vanish days later, sparking a chilling mystery about the enigmatic man they both encountered and the dangerous web of manipulation surrounding him.

My Review: Wow what a wild ride! While some of the plot twists may feel a bit far-fetched. The story is clever and fast paced which makes it easy to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the ride. The twists and turns kept me guessing—I thought I had everything figured out, but I was completely wrong. The audiobook experience is particularly good, with each character brought to life by a different narrator, adding depth and intensity to the story. If you’re looking for an exciting, edge-of-your-seat read, I highly recommend giving this one a listen! Perfect for fans of Frieda McFadden.

Genres/Themes: Fiction / Thrillers - Domestic / Thrillers - Psychological

The Business Trip is scheduled for publication on January 14, 2025, by Macmillan Audio.

This is the best audio book I have listened to in a long time! So many narrators! I did not see where this one was going - a really good fast paced thriller. I did not really like the ending but I enjoyed the rest of the book so much that I rounded it up to 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audible arc in exchange for my honest review. Publication date is 1/14/25.

Oh.... oh no. The writing was not good. It felt like a beginner writer wrote this, very choppy. And everything just played out way too easy and conveniently. Wildly unbelievable. Are we sure McFadden didn't write this instead?

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillian.audio for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Suspenseful Debut with Room to Grow

Jessie Garcia's debut novel, "The Business Trip," delivers a thrilling ride for suspense fans. The first half effectively establishes a sense of unease, leaving the reader questioning the unfolding events. The second half maintains this momentum, masterfully building anticipation with each twist and turn.

The multi-perspective narrative allows readers to connect with various characters, fostering empathy and understanding, even for some of the more morally ambiguous figures. This approach provides valuable insights into their motivations and adds layers of complexity to the plot.

The story follows Jasmine as she escapes an abusive relationship and embarks on a journey of self-discovery, intersecting with Stephanie's business trip. Their paths converge unexpectedly, while their loved ones race to unravel the mystery surrounding their disappearances. The suspense is expertly maintained, and the plot consistently surprises with unexpected twists and turns.

The audiobook boasts a stellar cast of ten narrators, each bringing a unique voice to their respective characters. This full-cast approach significantly enhances the listening experience, immersing the audience in the suspenseful atmosphere. It's an ideal choice for commutes or relaxing evenings.

While some aspects of the writing and dialogue could benefit from further refinement, "The Business Trip" offers a fast-paced and entertaining read. Overall, it's a promising debut that showcases Garcia's talent for crafting suspenseful narratives.

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #macmillianaudio #netgalley #goodreads #thebusinesstrip #jessiegarcia

Hello wild ride. This was a gripping thriller that I didn’t want to put down. You follow Jasmine and Stephanie, both take a flight out of town. Jasmine to escape her controlling, abusive boyfriend and Stephanie for a work trip. It doesn’t take long for things to heat up and to have you start guessing what exactly happened. Even when you think you have it figured out, don’t be so sure.

Jessie Garcia’s debut novel is a triumph for thriller fans. I spent the first half of the book wondering what was happening and the second half wondering what would happen next.

The story is told from various perspectives so readers get to come along for the journey, developing empathy and rapport with the narrator. It’s even fun to hear the voice of some of the more self-assured nefarious characters!

You’ll join Jasmine as she’s sneaking out of her boyfriend’s house, escaping an abusive relationship, taking a plane to Denver, pretending to be on a business trip. Meanwhile Stephanie is taking the same plane on a business trip of her own. From there their lives entwine while their loved ones try to uncover the mystery with clues left behind. Readers will be in on it too but I could never guess what was going to happen next.

The audiobook features ten different narrators! What a treat for each chapter told from a different character’s perspective to be in a unique voice.

I gave it 4.5 stars because I found some of the writing and dialogue to be rudimentary but if you’re looking for a fast, easy, thrilling read, this is worth your time.

The beginning started strong for me. I received the audiobook from NetGalley prior to its release and was most excited because I love the company that narrated it. The story was a bit hard to follow as there were a lot of people involved. Overall I enjoyed the plot though! The writing style was enjoyable and entertaining.

Wonderful thriller debut!
I love thrillers like these, the kind that there truly is no "innocent" or "hero" just a bunch of flawed and unreliable people adding pieces of a puzzle. The more you wait around for answers, the more confused you get. But I have to say its those wonderful kinds of confused, you know as a reader you should be this way, it adds to this deep curiosity. I HAD to find out what was happening, so I kept reading and reading.

The narration is done very well too! All narrators were very skilled!

SPOILERS!!!!


This book just wasn’t for me. The premise sounded interesting—two women, Stephanie and Jasmine, don’t know each other but are linked by strange, erratic texts about the same man, Trent McCarthy, before they both disappear. It promised twists and layers, but honestly, I couldn’t connect with it at all.

The main character was completely unlikable—honestly, a psycho—and her decisions were baffling. Why go after some random person instead of her abuser? It made no sense to me and left the whole story feeling disconnected. Plus, the allusions to domestic violence didn’t add much depth; they felt more like a plot device than something meaningful.

And the ending? I was left thinking, what even was that? I know they were trying to provide closer but I just thought the whole deal was just a waste of time. Overall, I wasn’t a fan, and I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re really into messy, chaotic thrillers.

Stephanie and Jasmine, seatmates on a flight, have nothing in common. Stephanie is on a business trip as a news director for a local television station whereas Jasmine had to paid cash from her waitressing tips for her ticket to flee an abusive relationship. The two women have entirely different backgrounds and likely wouldn’t have much to say to each other if they weren’t seated in the same row, yet both women go missing and their texts to family and friends are eerily similar. Both women claim some man named Trent hit on them and then suddenly became violent. Are the women in danger? Are they together? Who and where is Trent?

The Business Trip starts off slow, but like all thrillers the second half of the story picks up the pace. There are several points of view in this telling, and I found most of the characters hard to connect to and rather unlikeable truth be told. The kicker for me is the ending—though surprising, it was a little too far-fetched for me. Overall, this popcorn thriller is an easy and quick read if thrillers are your genre of choice, but too much is explained as it happens taking away from the suspense while reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and author Helen Phifer for the advanced copy of the audiobook. The Business Trip is out January 14th. All opinions are my own.

3.5⭐️ Two women who meet on a plane - one headed out on a business trip and one escaping her past - both vanish within days of their flight together.

This book had me in its grips until the last 10%, when the over-the-top ending lost me a bit. It’s very twisty and fun, and the multiple POVs kept me on my toes. The epitome of the popcorn thriller, this is a great read for a rainy/snowy day.

🎧 Narrated by a large ensemble cast, I think audio is the way to go with this one.

Read if you like:
▪️domestic suspense
▪️popcorn thrillers
▪️fun twists and turns
▪️multiple povs

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies.

solid debut! 👏🏼

thank you macmillan audio for the free copy! i highly recommend this on audio, the multicast narrators nailed it given that there were multiple POVs i was never confused.

and that ending?! 🫢 if you want a popcorn thriller, pick this one up.

Wow! I was not expecting that! I thought I had a good idea of where this book was headed; I had my theories and felt I was on the right track. But I was completely wrong! I found The Business Trip to be a shocking and well-thought-out thriller that kept me on my toes.

Have you ever wondered about the people you meet on planes? Do you talk to the person sitting next to you, or do you avoid conversation altogether? The Business Trip might have you reconsidering that the next time you sit next to a stranger on a flight.

In the story, Stephanie and Jasmine meet on a plane. Stephanie is a successful businesswoman and a news director on her way to a conference in San Diego. Jasmine is running from an abusive relationship and is relying on handouts from friends, even resorting to stealing.

Their friends start receiving identical text messages about the same man they both encountered and then both women mysteriously vanish. Twisted behaviors, wrongful accusations, and a web of lies will make you even more skeptical about interacting with strangers. Some people are being manipulated, while one person is a dangerous psychopath. I completely misjudged these unlikable characters.

I listened to the audio production, which may have helped my overall understanding and in keeping the characters' plot lines straight in my mind.

The Business Trip has a full AMAZING cast! I loved that all of the POVs had different narrators!
I'm extremely surprised that this is a debut novel by Jessie Garcia, It was so good!
I would love to see this turned into a movie or limited series, I would act surprised I swear!
I had a great time putting information together trying to figure out what was going on!

Publisher Summary
This program features multicast narration."A stunning and accomplished debut, with hugely relatable characters and an addictive storyline that kept me turning the pages well into the night. Bravo!"—BA Paris, New York Times bestselling author"Wow, The Business Trip was nonstop twists and turns. I loved the unusual way that the story was told, and I kept reading all day long because I couldn't wait to see how it ended!"—Freida McFadden, New York Times bestselling authorTHE BUSINESS TRIP is the gripping, binge-worthy debut from author Jessie Garcia.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?

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillian Audio for the ALC of this book!

The Business Trip
By Jessie Garcia
Narrated by: Andrew Eiden, Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick, Fred Berman, Gail Shalan, Hillary Huber, Jennifer Pickens, John Pirhalla,
Kimberly M. Wetherell, Kirby Heyborne, & Tim Campbell
Release date 01-14-25
Publisher Macmillan Audio
Categories Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

This was good, until... it wasn't? I don't know, I feel like it started out strong and there's no denying there are some pretty fun and unexpected twists, but overall I wasn't really invested in any of the characters, and it doesn't help that they're all rather unlikable. The narration was a full cast and well done. I think overall this was an entertaining popcorn thriller. A huge thanks to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in return for my honest review.

The Business Trip is a psychological thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seat from the very first page. Stephanie, on a business trip, and Jasmine, fleeing an abusive relationship, have no idea they are both being drawn into the dangerous web of the same man, Trent McCarthy. After they start sending identical, increasingly erratic texts about him to their friends, both women vanish without a trace. The mystery unravels layer by layer, with twists that make it nearly impossible to predict what will happen next. The alternating perspectives between Jasmine and Stephanie, combined with their friends’ viewpoints, provide a rich, dynamic narrative, making it clear that nothing in this story is as it seems.

The full-cast audiobook narration elevated the experience, immersing me deeper into the suspenseful atmosphere. The pacing was perfect, with each chapter leaving me wanting to know the truth behind Trent’s manipulation and the women's fates. The story read like a true-crime episode, filled with intrigue, suspense, and twists. If you enjoy thrillers that explore manipulation, deception, and the complexity of human relationships, The Business Trip is one worth checking out.

Special thanks to macmillan audio, st. martins press and netgalley for the ARC/ALC.

This was a great Audiobook! I read 185 books last year and 70% were audiobooks, so i have a good feel for good narration (and definitely recognize the "not-good" variety!)
The story was solid, several good twists and a great epilogue ending. There were alot of characters to keep up with, which got a little confusing, however it all came together in the end. I think i would like it less in another format. Audio was perfect here. Had a good pace and the narrator had good character voice differentiators.
I would rate the narration a solid 4.5 stars. The Story a 3.75 stars - so an overall 4 star read!