The Business Trip follows the disappearance of two women: Jasmine, who is escaping an abusive relationship, and Stephanie, who is wearily attending yet another work trip. Although their lives are very different, their disappearances begin in the same way- with a string of texts about a mysterious man named Trent McCarthy.

I enjoyed this book! It’s very quick and readable- I was engaged in the story the whole time, and the author does a great job of shifting perspectives without making the story choppy or confusing. There were several twists and turns, and while I was able to predict most of them, a few really did catch me off guard. I will admit the book starts to lag about 3/4 of the way through, when the author provides far too much explanation about what was happening toward the beginning of the book. However, the ending picks the pace back up in a satisfying way

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

This was a read I was so excited for !! It was just highly unbelievable to the point where I was rolling my eyes. It fell really flat and there are so many plot holes. That ending was absolutely way too over the top for me.

What an exciting treat! I was a giveaway winner on Goodreads of the new paperback novel “The Business Trip” by Jessie Garcia. It was filled with unexpected characters and plot twists. An ordinary business trip to a seminar in San Diego results with an international search for two women. This story reminds me why I never get friendly with seatmates on a plane. That chance meeting just may change your life. The air pressure in my chest sure dropped as this story of a chance meeting on a plane morphed into indescribable turbulence. Stephanie is divorced, middle age, owns a cat and has a small group of friends. Jasmine is an emotional wreck, fleeing an abusive relationship, running to Denver for freedom and a new beginning. The women have little in common. It’s an uneventful flight until several days later their employees and friends receive text messages. Each woman separately sends texts about the new, exciting man whisking them to Atlanta. I wasn’t expecting the sudden dark and deadly transformation as years of feeling “less than”, “not deserving “ turns one of the women into someone unrecognizable. She’s filled with rage, jealousy, believes she deserves nice things like money in the bank, jewelry, designer clothes, etc. A theme that puts an interesting spin on class disparity. Pushed to her limit, this woman would do anything to have the perfect life and all it’s trimmings. This debut author kept me guessing and fooled me several times. Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Press and Jessie Garcia for the opportunity to read “The Business Trip” prior to publication expected 01/14/2025.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Straight up a gripping thriller! The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia pulls you into a whirlwind of suspense and emotional depth that’s hard to shake off.

The book is structured around two intertwining narratives—Stephanie’s corporate life and Jasmine’s harrowing escape from an abusive relationship. This dual perspective not only heightens emotional engagement but creates a rich tapestry of experiences that reflect the complexity of female resilience. The alternating chapters build tension, drawing readers into a world where every decision could lead to salvation or disaster. There’s a palpable sense of urgency and dread that permeates the pages, making it impossible to put down.

In terms of writing quality, Garcia displays a strong command of pacing and suspense. The dialogue feels natural, and the settings are vividly described, immersing readers in the story. However, at times, the plot twists can feel a bit contrived, which detracts from the overall realism. Still, the gripping nature of the story often overshadows these moments.

<b> ✅ Pros: </b>:

○ Engaging dual narrative that deepens emotional connection.
○ Strong pacing that maintains suspense throughout.
○ Vivid descriptions that create an immersive reading experience.

<b>❌ Cons </b>:

○ Some plot points feel a bit far-fetched.
○ Character development could be deeper in places.
○ Occasional heavy-handedness in addressing serious themes, which could have benefited from subtlety.

<b>TLDR: </b>
The Business Trip has the potential to resonate with a broad audience, especially fans of thrillers that feature strong female leads and intricate plots. While it has its flaws, the engaging storytelling and emotional depth make it a worthwhile read. I’m giving it a solid 4 stars for its compelling narrative and character dynamics.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝙎𝙩-𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣'𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸. 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆.

What a great debut thriller. Jasmine is running away from an abusive relationship. Stephanie is on a business trip that she does not want to go on. She needs a break from life. They end up sitting together on an airplane and strike up a casual conversation. A decision is made and one of the women won’t be going back home. An unstable devious plan is put into action. Who is the strange man Trent both women become involved with? This book is full of twists and turns with nothing being as it seems. I could not put this book down until I finished it in the middle of the night. Great read.

Twisty and addictive! This reminded me a lot of a Freida McFadden book- slightly predictable but very bingeworthy. Fans of fast paced thrillers will enjoy!

My original thought as I read the fist third of The Business Trip was that this was a women's novel detailing how crude men could be to women. But author Jessie Garcia wasn't going to stop there, and we soon saw Jasmine try some crude tricks on her own. Poor Stephanie though!
Readers will relish this story, and it isn't just for women.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

It wasn’t my favorite I like another reader felt first part of book was good but the second part was repetitive and the plot went nowhere it was like no editing was done.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting review book

What a story! We begin by discovering the lives of newscaster Stephanie, a successful business woman and Jasmine, a woman escaping an abusive relationship. A chance meeting on a flight from Madison to Denver changes their lives forever! I didn't care for some of language certain characters used. Ths story does have topics of domestic abise, sexual violence and of course... Murder. Overall a really well stood story with lots of twists and turns! I was mostly correct on one of the twists but i sure didn't see the last one coming. I'm still not sure if I like it (feels a bit farfetched) but still entertaining! Will have you thinking twice the next time you meet a stranger on your next flight!

Amazing for a debut. One sitting read aka I stayed up all night to finish this. So many twists and turns my head was spinning!

I enjoyed the first part of the book - it was intriguing, I fell right into the story and was eager to see what happens next. The second part of the book was almost a duplicate of the first one, but from a different perspective, I had to read the same text messages again (why?). The conclusion was just stupid and completely unbelievable. The characters were not flashed out.

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The story revolves around Stephanie and Jasmine, two seemingly unrelated women who find their lives intertwined. The story is suspenseful, with every twist and turn heightening the tension and deepening the mystery. The characters are relatable and well developed, combined with a storyline that is as unpredictable as it is addictive, making this book an unputdownable read!

The Business Trip is a solid debut. The story is fast paced. Sometimes with a book with multiple POV and it moves quickly, I have trouble keeping everyone straight. I didn't in this case. It kept me reading, and reading...until I was done. A business trip, two women of different backgrounds, and a man. Just when I think I knew where it was going, it went somewhere else! I enjoyed it a lot. Some reviewers say it's far fetched, and yes, some points are...but it didn't make this any less enjoyable for me at all. I can't wait for another by Jessie Garcia.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheBusinessTrip #NetGalley #StMartinsPress #debutnovel #thriller

Definitely a thrill ride! Some books hinge on characters, this book is mainly on plot, which isn't a bad thing. We follow multiple narrators (sorry if that's not your thing) across several states but the main one is Jasmine.

A bar waitress fleeing an abusive boyfriend and heading to Denver to start over, Jasmine meets someone and makes a last minute decision that will change everything. meanwhile, Stephanie, a new channel director is headed to San Diego for a typical business conference. What could go wrong?

I was never bored reading this and it was interesting to see how all the pieces fit together throughout. There was even a last minute twist I wasn't expecting. Sometimes a good story is just a good story!

*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC

Read this book all the way through the end of chapter 42 and then close the book and walk away. If you keep reading, it will ruin everything.


***SPOILERS***

I tore through this book in one day. I found the plot to be original and engaging, and at one point it even crossed my mind that this was almost like following a female Tom Ripley. I was impressed that she was coolheaded and always able to think three steps ahead in order to cover her tracks. I was so close to the end of the book that I just knew it had to end with her slipping away into a new life and getting away with everything. I was so impressed that the author was doing the dangerous thing and letting the villain win. And then...

And then.

The most nonsensical plot twist. It made NO sense on any level. It was so bad that it kind of undid all the solid plotting that came before. DOPPELGÄNGERS? Seriously??

Suddenly I was noticing all the other problems that I had overlooked in my reader's fugue state... The female characters all had kind of the same voice. The males were mostly clunky caricatures. The relationships didn't feel real… I mean, Jasmine's childhood best friend knows that her new boyfriend is abusive, and decides not to warn her? Stephanie sits on an airplane next to a complete rando and freely gives up every detail of her itinerary, including what hotel she's staying in? And the doppelgänger stuff… It was just so ridiculous and far-fetched. A random actress that she sort of resembles appears on an app and she's going to hire this woman to impersonate her at a conference, complete with a matching human hair wig or something, while she disappears to party in Mexico? And then she's going to give this total stranger all of her social media accounts and passwords? And her clothes? (Except the underwear! I mean, she's not GROSS.) What is she supposed to do when she gets home and is meant to be presenting the findings of the conference to her boss and her news team? This is so stupid.

Chapters one through 42 of this book, five stars. After Chapter 42, one star. What I'm saying is, stop reading at the end of chapter 42. You'll thank me for it.

I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for access to a digital ARC. My honest review is my own opinion.

Are you ready for your next mystery and thriller? The Business Trip should be moved up to the top of your TBR list.

This was a wild ride. If you'd asked me at any point to predict how the rest of the book would go, I'd have been completely wrong. I had to know what would happen, to the point that I was reading in the car (as a passenger, obviously) even though I get carsick. The ending was one twist too many, but I prefer that to not enough!

Such a good read that I enjoyed! I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

Pretty good book! Would read more from this author. Jasmines whole attitude and angst against the upper middle class was hard to find believable.... Twist at the end was kind of out of left field. Quick, easy read but only 4 starw for stated reasons.

This book is the perfect example of how a debut author should come out swinging hard and winning!! This book is one psychological roller coaster ride you will get on and not breath until the very last page!! I’d give this book 20 stars!! Kudos Jessie Garcia for a perfect debut & thanks for the advanced read!