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 is a debut by Jessie Garcia. Stephanie is going on a business trip and Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. They don’t know each other, but they end up on the same plane and their lives intertwine, changing them forever. Soon after, they both go missing. This book had a lot of characters at one point which became confusing, but by the third act everything was laid out and easier to digest. This part may be a little bit on the spoiler side so stop reading if you don’t want to hear it: I thought it was a little strange how some characters started out likable and you were rooting for them, and then the author kind of flipped the script! I’m not sure if that’s how it was supposed to be or a decision was made halfway through, but I didn’t really care for that. But for her first book, I thought she did a pretty fantastic job overall, and I liked the story, so I will definitely read her again!

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

All in all, The Business Trip was a quick read (caveat: I skimmed most of Trent's chapters because he was atrocious) with an intriguing premise, but I'm not sure if I would read more from this author.

I did really enjoy what this book set out to do--the premise of the disappearance of two women mostly through the eyes of those left behind was different from similarly themed books, and the short chapters made for a quick, easy read. The twist at the end was also pretty satisfying.

Unfortunately, there were also some things that subjectively didn't work for me. Having Stephanie and Jasmine largely absent for most of the first half made it hard for me to care about their disappearance in the first place. And with that, no one's voice really stood out. All secondary characters sounded the same (ex: the trailer park guy is indistinguishable from the head of the news station) and their chapters felt repetitive. You've also really got to lean hard into the willing suspension of disbelief (mostly with the convenient way Jasmine goes about everything. Felt very deus ex machina. And just how big is Stephanie's suitcase??). And I hate to say it, but the epilogue felt really unnecessary.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for giving me access to this ARC on NetGalley through its influencer program.

One sitting, yep - get your snacks and free up your calendar, this one revs up slowly but then hits break neck speed to the end. You won't figure it all out, even if you think you have. Twists and turns, and multi-person views really keep thing going, and quite believable.

Phenomenal!!!! I read this book in less than 24 hours, now I wish I would’ve taken a little longer because I didn’t want it to end. WOW- the twists included were sometimes subtle but all came together in the end.

I enjoyed the perspectives of several different characters. Each character was built up through lots of details to be able to imagine the scene.

This book included some twists of things I’ve never read about, which obviously made it more intriguing, As I’ve read so many psychological thrillers, it’s hard to find new ways to keep me guessing,

Bravo to this new author!,

Jessie Garcia's debut, ‘The Business Trip’, is a masterclass in suspense and psychological intrigue. From the moment Stephanie and Jasmine's paths cross on a plane, the story unfolds with relentless tension. The writing is sharp and evocative, pulling you into the lives of these two women as their seemingly unrelated journeys converge in the most chilling way. I love the way author masterfully layers twist upon twist, keeping you guessing at every turn. The writing is sharp, and the pacing is relentless, ensuring you won’t put this book down until the shocking conclusion. With characters that feel real and a plot that keeps you on edge, this is a five-star thriller you can’t miss.

A page-turning page flipping, unputdownable thriller! I read this one in one night. If you like Julie Clark's The Last Flight, you'll LOVE this one. Perfectly twisty with unreliable characters. I loved it.