Started off strong but I struggled the last half or so. Lots of twists and I did enjoy the story just not the writing style. Thank you NetGalley for this arc

3.75 stars

It was a solid 4 until the very end. There was one aspect of the ending that unfortunately lost me just a little bit. Still, for a debut thriller, this is largely a good one. I really enjoyed the various perspectives and how the story unfolded.

Wow! ... just wow! What a debut from Jessie Garcia, but she hit it outta the park with this one. I couldn't put it down from start to finish. I loved the unique construction of the novel, and the relatable characters, from several points of view but it did not get confusing.

With more unexpected twists than a bag of pretzels, I thoroughly enjoyed the unfolding of the mystery and how the main character Jasmine put it all together. The ending was yet another shocker with this unexpected reveal.

Watch out Freida McFadden, you've got some competition here. Best wishes in future endeavors, Jessie Garcia. This will be a hard act to follow.

Get your copy Jan 14, 2025 at your favorite retailers or pre-order it today!
My thanks to St Martins Press, a favorite publisher - provided through NetGalley for the e-arc.

So messy and thrilling. You truly didn’t know what would happen next. It’s been awhile since I’ve felt completely on the edge of my seat from a thriller.

Wow!!! What a wild ride. This was a great read.
The first half was kinda slow to me, but I was still really invested in the story. Now.. the second half!!! I could not put the book down!! I really thought I had this all figured out, but I did not. This was such a twisty read and I would definitely recommend it to my fellow thriller lovers!!

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia tells of two very different women who meet on an airplane, and within a few days each sends similar text messages to her friends about meeting the same man and deciding to go off with him. Not alarmed at first, the friends become more concerned when the messages become odder and imply that their friend is in danger. Then the messages stop. The women have vanished, and panic sets in for those who care about them.

This is a skillfully written, riveting, and suspenseful read with an intricate and complex plot. You may think you have it figured out, but you will be proven wrong again and again. Surprises all the way with this one! It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel, and it definitely makes the author one to watch. I'm already looking forward to her next book!

My thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read a DRC of this novel via NetGalley. Publication is 1/14/25. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own and are freely given.

The Business Trip is a debut novel about two women on the same plane who go missing. Stephanie is heading to a conference in San Diego. Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. They don’t know each other, just sit in the same row of the plane. But days after the flight, friends receive identical messages from each, about meeting someone named Trent McCarthy.
The story is initially told from multiple POVs, which keeps the first half of the story moving at a brisk pace. I was especially engaged by Stephanie’s co-workers. Liking this story comes down to being engaged by the twists in the plot. The first twist fell flat for me. The second half of the book is told from a single perspective and became a recital of how things occur. Another negative. After that, I found myself skimming. The big reveal at the end was really bad and was the final nail in the coffin.
I’ve said it before, I don’t mind if a character is unlikeable as long as they’re interesting. And this one wasn’t. The character also comes across as inconsistent and unbelievable.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

Wow what a mystery thriller this one is! When I started reading this one I never expected to be totally consumed by it. To say I did not want to put it down is such an underwhelming statement. I truly did not want to do anything else but read it. In the beginning you meet Jasmine who is trying to escape an abusive marriage. A chance encounter on a plane puts her in the seat next to Stephanie who is going to California on a business trip. If that sounds familiar it is but this one goes so far beyond what chance encounters can be. Just when you think you have all the clues, guess again. Jessie Garcia is a master at character development, thinking outside the box and storytelling. If I could give this book 10 stars I would. Rarely am I so impressed with a story. I totally look forward to her next book.

I wish to thank Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Business Trip is a stunning and accomplished thriller that will keep you turning the pages well into the night. The story follows two women, Stephanie and Jasmine, who have nothing and everything in common. Stephanie is on a business trip, while Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. Their lives intersect in unexpected ways, leading to a series of intense and intriguing twists. Garcia's characters are hugely relatable, making the addictive storyline even more compelling. The plot is expertly woven, with surprises that will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you devouring every word written. The Business Trip is an impressive debut from Jessie Garcia. If you enjoy twisty, fast-paced mysteries, this is a must-read. Garcia's writing is engaging, and her ability to craft relatable characters and unexpected plot turns makes for a thrilling read.
I look forward to more exciting releases from this talented new author.

The writing style did not work for me. I'm sure other readers might click with it more. There was too much info dumping and telling not showing going on and so the flow felt off and I couldn't get into it and had to DNF.

Started off with a lot of promise, but became unhinged (and not in a good way). The second half felt like reading the first draft of a thriller where the author writes down every single idea and nothing is edited out.

I like to read a book by an unknown author, and even more so when it is a debut novel. This book, Jessie Garcia's debut, sounded promising with its intriguing plot. Unfortunately, it fell short on the delivery.

Jasmine and Stephanie meet on a long flight. Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship, and Stephanie is going to yet another conference for her television newsroom. Although they are far apart on the socioeconomic ladder, they find common ground. A few days after the flight, they both disappear after apparently meeting the same man. Both are in contact with friends and business associates through texts, but as the texts become more alarming, the fate of the two women comes into question. Who is this mystery man, and what has happened to the two women?

Told from multiple POVs and numerous text messages, it is quickly apparent that everything is not as it should be. The reader is led down a winding path of clues as more is revealed about the two women and the mystery man. I was sucked into the story at the beginning as I tried to figure out what was happening. The suspense is good, but I had a problem accepting the twists as the story became more complex, and it became harder to suspend disbelief. Overall, this is a good first effort, but it is sometimes hard to swallow. 3/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is January 14, 2025.

Ok now this was a great debut novel! I could not put this book down and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin Press for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review!

Envy and vengeance prove to be a deadly combination in this wildly unpredictable thriller. I enjoyed the different POVs and was entertained and surprised by how all the pieces cleverly came together. The plot is intense and intriguing with unexpected twists throughout. This is an impressive debut. I look forward to reading more thrillers by Jessica Garcia in the future. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my copy.

This book is poorly written, characters are ridiculous (are they 40 or 16??), plot defies all ability to suspend disbelief, "twists" were horribly predictable. I hated every second I spent reading this book.

Wow! What a fantastic debut! I totally loved this book! Gripping from start to finish. I could not put it down. Crazy roller coaster ride with no idea who to trust. Excellent storytelling. Highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley, Jessie Garcia and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

4.5/5
I loved how this book was written! Each part had different narrators and we learned bits and pieces from their point of views as the book progressed. We never really know what exactly is happening, which I LOVED! Unreliable narrators and suspense are my jam! The ending was shocking! My jaw literally dropped. I loved this popcorn thriller!

I had a hard time getting into this one, and was trying to decide if I was going to push through or DNF; ultimately I pushed through and it did get better. This wasn’t a knockout read for me, but it did pick up and get a little more twist and entertaining. I did enjoy the different perspectives to the same situation, but the further into the book I got, I did start skimming some of the less interesting parts that I had already read through. The last part of the book was the most action - packed, having me trying to read as fast as I could to figure out what was happening and HOW a major twist happened. If the synopsis sounds interesting to you, I think The Business Trip would be worth picking up.
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Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sometimes you pick up a book and the words just grab you. Your interest is sparked and you just have to find out how it all ends. "The Business Trip", is that kind of book. Not all the characters are likable. But in thrillers, that often is the case.

From the moment I began reading it, whenever I put the book down, I just kept thinking about it. There are twists and turns that are delicious! It is fast paced. And it is a terrific story, indeed. The writing was great and I just loved every moment I spent with it. I highly recommend, " The Business Trip".

The risk with having so many first person point-of-views in a book is the risk that some or all sound the same and that there’ll be a lack of development because of how many here are. Unfortunately, I felt that here. I had trouble distinguishing whose head I was in. There was also a little too much telling (paragraphs of explanations and I needed more showing and action).